Step into Duke’s practice facility this August, and you’ll notice it before the ball even touches the floor.
It’s in the way players greet each other — not with casual handshakes, but with chest bumps and quick words of motivation. It’s in the way coaches push the pace, barking out challenges, then nodding with approval when someone digs deeper than they thought possible.
This isn’t your typical summer run-through. This is culture in motion.
Every drill is executed with playoff-level focus. No lazy passes. No “just getting through it.” Caleb Foster is barking out defensive rotations like it’s the Final Four. Isaiah Evans is diving for loose balls in a practice scrimmage. Maliq Brown? He’s sprinting back on defense after every missed shot as if a season’s worth of wins depends on it.
Even the younger guys are buying in. You see them absorbing every word, matching the veterans’ energy, and refusing to let up when fatigue sets in.
The result? A gym that feels like it’s already in March.
The coaches aren’t hiding their excitement. One staff member said it best: “The chemistry is real, and that’s not something you can fake. You can win games with talent, but you win championships with culture.”
If this is what Duke looks like in August, just imagine what they’ll look like when the lights are brightest.
One thing’s for sure — if this summer is any indication, this season could be something special.
