The San Antonio Spurs are signing David Duke Jr. to a two-way contract, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Duke Jr. has spent this season in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats, the affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers. Duke Jr. spent the first two years of his NBA career with the Brooklyn Nets. In order to make room for the move, the Spurs have waived guard Sir’Jabari Rice, per Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News.
In 11 games with the Blue Coats this season, Duke Jr. averaged 21.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists while shooting 42.9% from the field and 37.0% from behind the three-point line. The 24-year-old is 6-foot-4 and played his college ball at Providence College, competing for the same city he grew up in.
Though just a two-way player, Duke Jr. will give the Spurs some added guard depth, as that area has been a question mark for them this season.
For the majority of the year, the Spurs rolled with Jeremy Sochan as their point guard, experimenting with a new-look starting lineup. However, the idea largely failed, as even Sochan himself was expressing discomfort in the role.
Now, reports have indicated that the Spurs will move away from Sochan as their full-time one, instead relying on a committee of him, Devin Vassell, Malaki Branham, and Tre Jones.
Duke Jr. may not fit into those plans right away, but with his experience as a high-level guard in college and the G League, he’s certainly an intriguing developmental piece to have around.
With how poorly the Spurs have played his season, Duke Jr. could see himself earning some chances at playing time by the end of the year, should be prove himself worthy.
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