Jason Kidd’s 1993 NCAA Upset Over Duke Lives On in Mavericks’ Locker Room Jason Kidd’s historic 1993 NCAA Tournament upset of two-time champion Duke remains a defining moment in his career and a source of pride for the Dallas Mavericks, whose roster includes multiple Blue Devils. The Mavericks’ current team, featuring players like Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Marvin Bagley III, and Dereck Lively II, carries a legacy of Duke alumni, with Kidd himself serving as a key figure in their history. The 1993 game, played in Rosemont, Ill., saw then-19-year-old Kidd lead California to an 82-77 victory over No. 3 seed Duke, a stunning upset for the No. 6 seed Bears. Kidd’s all-around performance—11 points, 14 assists, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals—helped Cal overcome Duke’s star power, including 32 points from Bobby Hurley and 18 points plus 8 steals from Grant Hill. The win, which came in the second round of the tournament, is still celebrated as one of the greatest upsets in NCAA history. Kidd’s Mavericks, currently struggling with a 23-47 record, are set to revisit the memory of that game as they prepare for the NBA draft lottery. The team’s coach, now reflecting on his past, humorously noted the irony of his team’s current struggles compared to the 1993 Bears’ triumph. “It’s amazing how time flies,” Kidd said, acknowledging the shared excitement of NCAA March Madness and the thrill of upsets. The Mavericks’ connection to Duke extends beyond Kidd. In 1993, the team selected Jamal Mashburn with the No. 4 overall pick, and the following year, Kidd was chosen over Hill with the No. 2 pick. Both players went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year awards and were inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2018. Today, the Mavericks’ roster continues to reflect the influence of Duke, with multiple players contributing to the team’s identity.#california #duke #mavericks #jason_kidd #nba_draft_lottery
NBA Playoff Watch: Nuggets, Suns Face Off in Key West Battle Two high-stakes matchups on Tuesday’s NBA schedule have significant implications for playoff positioning. In the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic host the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the Phoenix Suns welcome the Denver Nuggets in the West. Both games carry weight as teams vie for postseason berths and favorable seeding. In the East, the Cavaliers, who have won three consecutive games, remain in the race for the third seed despite trailing the New York Knicks by 2.5 games. The Magic, meanwhile, have fallen into the play-in picture, sitting in eighth place and 1.5 games behind the sixth-place Atlanta Hawks. A win for Orlando could help them close the gap, but the Cavaliers’ pursuit of a top-three spot remains uncertain. The West’s critical matchup pits the Suns against the Nuggets, with both teams locked in a tight race for the fourth seed. Denver and Minnesota are tied for fourth, holding a half-game edge over Houston, while the Suns trail by a significant margin. The Nuggets’ playoff hopes hinge on a strong performance against Phoenix, as ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) gives the Suns less than a 3% chance of securing a postseason spot. A victory for the Suns would be a monumental step toward escaping the play-in, but the odds remain heavily stacked against them. Looking at the broader playoff landscape, the Sacramento Kings’ struggles continue as they face the Charlotte Hornets. The Kings, with a 5-5 record in their last 10 games, have been overtaken by the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Indiana Pacers, who now hold the league’s worst records. The Kings’ chances of landing the No. 1 pick in June’s draft are slim, with only a 12.5% chance of securing the top selection despite their current position.#denver_nuggets #phoenix_suns #nba_playoff_watch #basketball_power_index #nba_draft_lottery
