The 2024-25 Duke Men’s Basketball Team is in the middle of its summer workouts, and the Duke Basketball Roundup was able to get some intel on how the team is coming together. And, no one knows more about the team than the coaching staff. So, to give a perspective that is not often featured on the show, associate head coach Jai Lucas joins the DBR Podcast to discuss the team.

The interview begins by focusing on a couple of the players, namely Kon Knueppel’s emergence during the summer as a player that many feel will get tons of minutes this season. Lucas explains how Kon’s game might be similar to what you might see at your local gym, but his physicality has been amazing.

Of course, Cooper Flagg has everyone’s attention, and Lucas discusses how he’s different from other top recruits. It’s very simple: his refusal to lose is infectious, and it’s a major theme for this team from the coaching staff on down to the players.

Jai Lucas also goes into recruiting and NIL and how the landscape has changed so much over the past year. While in previous years Duke had their recruiting class almost settled, few top recruits in the Class of 2025 are even close to making a decision. While we are in the final year of players having the extra year of eligibility due to Covid, the transfer portal and NIL have clearly affected how all college basketball staffs, not just Duke, approach recruiting. And, recruits have a different approach as well.

While many fans get to learn about life as a college student-athlete, it’s rare we get to see what it’s like for a coach. Jai Lucas gives us that perspective, from how roles and responsibilities are divided to how the coaching staff is coming together and learning from each other. They always have their eye on the rest of the ACC and the moves they are making, and this season Jai thinks there are some interesting teams that Duke fans should keep an eye on because of how they’ve improved. Finally, Jai Lucas talks about Jon Scheyer the coach and the man, and how his competitive fire drives everything he does…including trying to beat an elite tennis player at his own game!

It’s important to learn about the team from the coaches that see the players every day. It’s great that Jai Lucas was able to join the Duke Basketball Roundup and hopefully it’s something that can continue to happen moving forward.