By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-07-30 09:32:50
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
马刺后卫大卫·杜克(David Duke Jr.)在防守俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大(Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)时赢得了赞誉，他称防守是作为一名球员的首要任务。
大卫·杜克的防守技巧和他在球场防守端的奉献精神是马刺队与他续签双向合同的重要原因。
“这对我来说是第一位的，是我的首要任务，”杜克在谈到他对防守的热情时说。“这是让我上场、留在场上的关键，利用我拥有的防守天赋，然后在此基础上，扩展我比赛的其他方面。”
马刺队上周宣布与杜克签约。这位身高 6 英尺 5 英寸、体重 205 磅的四年级后卫参加了上赛季的最后四场比赛，场均上场 12.8 分钟，得到 6.5 分、2.5 个篮板和 1.3 次助攻，其中包括在赛季末战胜活塞队的比赛中拿下 15 分、3 个篮板和 1 次抢断。
杜克去年 12 月与马刺队签下了他的第一份双向合同，此前他曾在布鲁克林篮网队和 NBA 发展联盟特拉华蓝衫队（费城 76 人队附属球队）效力。在为奥斯汀马刺队出战的 38 场比赛中，他场均上场 32.9 分钟，得到全队最高的 19.8 分，以及 6.4 个篮板、4.6 次助攻和 1.3 次抢断，三分球命中率为 37.7%（场均出手 4.8 次）。
这足以说服马刺队继续投资于他的发展。
“他们重视我，他们希望我回来，”杜克说。“被一支球队需要的感觉很好，尤其是在这个级别的联赛中。我只是把它当作一个成长的机会……向他们展示我比赛中他们可能还没有看到的部分。”
马刺队签下克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)增强了杜克留在圣安东尼奥的兴奋之情。这位 24 岁的罗德岛州普罗维登斯人，利比里亚难民之子，渴望向 39 岁的保罗学习，后者是一位 12 次入选全明星的控球后卫。
“克里斯·保罗是一位传奇人物，在我看来，他是一位名人堂成员，所以我很高兴他能来这里，我有机会向他请教，”杜克说。“我想尽可能多地学习。我尊重那些在我之前来过这里的球员，他们很有天赋，知道要付出什么。我想我知道要付出什么，但我还没有做到。”
马刺后卫小大卫·杜克(左)出现在上赛季的最后四场比赛中，场均得到 6.5 分和 2.5 个篮板，其中包括在赛季最后一场对阵活塞队的比赛中得到 15 分。
保罗不会是杜克自 2021 年以落选新秀身份进入联盟以来合作过的第一位明星球员。在普罗维登斯学院的三个赛季中，包括他在 2020-21 赛季的大三赛季，他在场均 37.1 分钟的时间里拿下了职业生涯最高的 16.8 分、6.3 个篮板和 4.8 次助攻，并入选了大东联盟第二阵容。
在篮网队的两个赛季中，杜克师从凯文·杜兰特(Kevin Durant)、凯里·欧文(Kyrie Irving)和詹姆斯·哈登(James Harden)。
“你不能因为他们的地位而不敢问问题，”他说。“说到底，他们都是篮球运动员，他们热爱篮球，所以这是与他们建立联系的一种方式。随着时间的推移，去找他们问问题变得容易了。这增强了我的信心。想象一下，那样地位的人给你反馈和建议。”
杜克与众多球星共事的时间以及他在普罗维登斯学院的三个赛季让他看起来很老练。
“他真的知道如何打球，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在上赛季末谈到杜克时说道，杜克已经打了 49 场 NBA 比赛，其中 7 场首发，全部在布鲁克林篮网队。
篮网队也很看好杜克，杜克在新秀赛季就赢得了时任篮网队主教练史蒂夫·纳什(Steve Nash)的赞誉，此前他在 2021 年 12 月加时战胜多伦多猛龙队的比赛中得到 10 分、13 个篮板、3 次助攻和 2 次盖帽。由于 COVID-19 协议，布鲁克林只剩下 8 名健康的球员，杜克获得了他的第一次职业首发，并以一场全面的比赛做出了回应。
“(杜克)在篮球场上做了很多事情，”纳什说。“他是一个有身体素质、运动能力强、防守强硬的球员。他可以抢断球，(获得)干扰球、抢断、进攻篮板。他也是一个非常好的组织者。”
“他可以进入油漆区并做出正确的决定。他做了很多事情。我们一直都很喜欢他，我们看到了他美好的未来。”
2024 年 4 月 12 日，在圣安东尼奥举行的与丹佛掘金队的 NBA 比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(54)(左)和后卫小大卫·杜克(7)(右)在争抢篮板球。马刺队以 121-120 获胜。
NBA 球队最多可以拥有三名双向合同球员，这使得他们最多可以为 NBA 球队效力 50 场比赛。签署双向合同的球员在两个联赛效力期间都将获得一份薪水。
马刺队的其他两名双向合同球员是二轮秀哈里森·英格拉姆(Harrison Ingram)，来自北卡罗来纳大学的后卫/前锋，以及三年级控球后卫贾马里·鲍耶(Jamaree Bouyea)。
英格拉姆和鲍耶在马刺队的夏季联赛阵容中表现出色。轻微的臀部受伤限制了杜克参加夏季联赛，但预计他将在 9 月下旬训练营开始时做好准备。
“我已经准备好找到一个角色，并将这个角色发挥到极致，”杜克说。“但对我来说，这一切都始于防守。”
点击查看原文：Nose for defense helps David Duke Jr. earn deal with Spurs
Nose for defense helps David Duke Jr. earn deal with Spurs
Spurs guard David Duke Jr., defending Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has earned praise for his defensive efforts, which he calls his top priority as a player.
David Duke Jr.'s defensive skills and his devotion to that blue-collar end of the floor played a big part in the Spurs signing him to another two-way contract.
“That’s number one for me, my priority," Duke said of his passion for defending. “It’s what is going to get me on the floor, keep me on the floor, utilizing the defensive gifts I have, and then from there, expanding other parts of my game.”
The Spurs announced their signing of Duke last week. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound fourth-year guard participated in the final four games of last season, averaging 6.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 12.8 minutes, including bagging 15 points, three rebounds and a steal in the win over Detroit in the finale.
Duke gained his first two-way contract with the Spurs last December after stints with Brooklyn and the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G League affiliate. In 38 games with the Austin Spurs, he averaged a team-high 19.8 points to go with 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 32.9 minutes while shooting 37.7% from 3-point range on 4.8 attempts per outing.
It was enough to convince the Spurs to continue investing in his development.
“They value me, they want me back,” Duke said. “It’s a good feeling to be wanted by a team, especially at this level. I just take it as an opportunity to grow … and show them more parts of my game that maybe they haven’t seen.”
The Spurs signing Chris Paul enhanced Duke’s excitement about staying in San Antonio. The 24-year-old native of Providence, R.I., and the son of Liberian refugees, is eager to learn from the 39-year-old Paul, a 12-time All-Star point guard.
“Chris Paul is a legend, a Hall of Famer, in my opinion, so I am very excited he is going to be here and that I have the chance to pick his brain,” Duke said. “I want to learn as much as I can. I respect the guys who have been here before me, that are talented and know what it takes. I think I know what it takes, but I haven’t done it yet.”
Spurs guard David Duke, Jr., left, appeared in the final four games of last season, averaging 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds, including a 15-point effort in the final game of the year against the Pistons.
Paul won’t be the first marquee player Duke has played with since he entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2021 following three seasons at Providence, which included his 2020-21 junior year in which he averaged career highs with 16.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 37.1 minutes per game on his way to being named to the All-Big East Second Team.
In his two seasons with the Nets, Duke learned from the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden.
“You can’t let the status of them intimidate you from asking questions,” he said. “At the end of the day, they are hoopers and they love basketball, so that’s one way to connect with them. It became easier over time to go up to them and ask them things. It was a confidence boost. Imagine someone of that stature giving you feedback and tips.”
Duke’s time around so many star players and his three seasons at Providence give him a polished look.
“He really knows how to play," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said late last season of Duke, who has played in 49 NBA games with seven starts, all with Brooklyn.
The Nets were also high on Duke, who as a rookie earned praise from then-Nets coach Steve Nash after he had 10 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in an overtime win over Toronto in December 2021. With Brooklyn down to just eight healthy players due to COVID-19 protocols, Duke got his first pro start and responded with a strong all-around outing.
“(Duke) does a lot of things on the basketball floor,” Nash said. “He’s a physical, athletic, strong defender. He can get his hands on the ball, (get) deflections, steals, offensive rebounds. He’s also a pretty good playmaker.
“He can get in the paint and make a good decision. He does a lot of things. We’ve always liked him, and we see a great future for him."
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54), left, and guard David Duke Jr. (7), right, make a rebound during the second half of their NBA game with the Denver Nuggets at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, April 12, 2024 in San Antonio. Spurs won 121-120.
NBA teams may carry up to three players on two-way contracts, which allow them to be active for up to 50 games with their NBA teams. Players signed to two-way deals are paid one salary for their time in both leagues.
The Spurs’ other two-way players are second-round pick Harrison Ingram, a guard/forward from North Carolina, and three-year veteran point guard Jamaree Bouyea.
Ingram and Bouyea played well for the Spurs’ Summer League squad. A minor hip injury curtailed Duke’s participation in Summer League, but he’s expected to be ready to go when training camp starts in late September.
“I’m ready to find a role and just maximize that role to a T,” Duke said. “But it starts for me defensively.”
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News