Chris Duhon
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Chris Nicholas Duhon (born August 31, 1982 in Mamou, Louisiana), is a professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the NBA. Duhon is better known however as a starting guard for the Duke University men's basketball team from the 2000-2001 season to the 2003-2004 season.
Duhon first came in to Duke's program in 2000, where he was an important role player, playing backup to guard Jay Williams. Following the injury of fellow teammate Carlos Boozer, Duhon was placed into the starting lineup as point guard, with Williams moving to shooting guard. The Duke Blue Devils went on to win the 2001 National Championship, and Duhon was named the 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year.
After his sophomore season, he began to become known for his defense, court vision, and versatility as a true point guard, averaging 2.3 steals per game, and 5.9 assists per game.
From his junior season on, Duhon became an instrumental leader for the Blue Devils, and in the 2002-2003 run, he led a very young Duke team to the Sweet 16, where he averaged 9.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. While many thought his junior season was a bust, Duhon's leadership superseded criticism, as he cracked into the top 10 assists leaders in NCAA Division I history.
In his senior season, Duhon averaged 10 points, 6 assists, 2.2 steals and 4.1 rebounds per game, and he led Duke to another Final Four.
Duhon became Duke's all-time steals leader (with 300), led Duke in minutes played (4,813), was second in assists (819), and had one of Duke's top assists to turnover ratios as well. In Duhon's four years, Duke compiled a 123-21 record, making Duhon the second winningest player in ACC history, behind Duke's Shane Battier (131 wins). He helped the Blue Devils win three ACC Championships. Duhon was a finalist for the 2004 Wooden Award, the Naismith Award, and Rupp Trophy awards. He left as one of the most complete guards in college basketball, being the only Atlantic Coast Conference player to score 1,200 points, 800 assists, 475 rebounds, 300 steals, and 125 three point shots in his four year college career.
In June 2004, Duhon was named the 38th pick in the 2004 NBA Draft to the Chicago Bulls.