Bleacher Report lists Duke alumni as top NBA players by age
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 2, 2026, 5:00 PM
Last updated Sep 2, 2026

Bleacher Report ranked the top NBA players by age ahead of the 2026-27 season, selecting three former Duke Blue Devils as the best in their respective age groups. Cooper Flagg, entering his second season after a Rookie of the Year campaign, leads the list at age 19. Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel earns the top spot for 21-year-olds after leading the league in 3-pointers made last year. Despite missing the previous season due to injury, Kyrie Irving is ranked as the best 34-year-old in the league. Other prominent former Duke players, including Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, and Jalen Johnson, were excluded from the top spots in their age categories. The rankings reflect individual production levels established throughout previous NBA seasons.
- •Cooper Flagg is ranked the best 19-year-old player.
- •Kon Knueppel earns the top spot for 21-year-olds.
- •Kyrie Irving is named the best 34-year-old in the league.
- •The list considers performance statistics from the 2025-26 NBA season.
- 5:00 PMYahoo Sports — Three Duke alumni receive unique distinction ahead of 2026-27 NBA season
"A few different Duke alumni were named the best players in their age group prior to the 2026-27 NBA season.
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