Jon Scheyer reveals what he's most proud about with former Duke big man Dereck Lively

During Friday’s NBA Summer League action, the team calling the day’s action, Corey Alexander and Sean Kelley, had a special guest during the second quarter of the contest between the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers.

The Duke Blue Devils’ second-year head coach Jon Scheyer dropped in to discuss a few things with the duo. Among the topics they discussed was the level of pride the Blue Devils’ headman has in the Mavericks’ first-round pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, Dereck Lively.

“So much. I think the thing that I’m most proud of, when you think about Dereck, his trajectory, what he’s done in high school, and his year at Duke, is just how he kept getting better and better,” said Scheyer. “And the thing for any young player is it’s never smooth sailing, right. We took some lumps early in the season. He was knocked back by an injury early on. And he just kept working, stayed really determined, and by the end of the year; I mean, if you think about the impact that he made for our team, it’s as big as any player in the country. Just seeing him here, his confidence has taken off. (I) love his activity. He’s done some great things already.”

Lively has had a bit of a quiet summer league debut, but unlike most first-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, he has played in every game for the Mavericks. The seven-foot big man is averaging 23.3 minutes per game in the first three games for Dallas. He has averaged 7.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and .7 blocks per game while shooting 75 percent from the field.

Duke hires former player Will Avery as assistant coach

Scheyer has been a busy man this offseason. Earlier in July, the program announced they added a new assistant to the coaching staff, but it’s a familiar face. Former Duke star Will Avery will be an assistant coach for the Blue Devils starting in 2023-24.

Avery has been around the program in various roles for the past four seasons as he completed his Duke degree. He had originally left the school after his sophomore season to go to the NBA Draft, one of the first Duke players to do so under Mike Krzyzewski.

“I’m extremely honored and excited to be a part of Coach Scheyer’s staff,” Avery said in a release announcing his hire. “Duke, our fans, and the city of Durham has held a special place in my heart since I was a teenager. Duke is family, and I feel at home. I want to thank Coach K for giving me a role in the basketball program four years ago and I’m very grateful for Coach Scheyer giving me the opportunity to begin my coaching career at Duke.”

Avery played for the Blue Devils from 1997 to 1999. In his second, sophomore season, the Blue Devils finished the season as national runners up.