“They think they are better than everyone” – Reggie Miller compares Duke’s reputation to New York Knicks

The Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team has fostered a culture of success that other schools can only dream of having. With five NCAA championships and a roster of legendary alumni — including Kyrie Irving, Grant Hill, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Paolo Banchero and Cooper Flagg — the Blue Devils have set an almost untouchable benchmark for excellence in college basketball.

However, as it often is, greatness breeds abhorrence, something many people feel towards the Duke. In fact, certain parts of the sports world burst into celebration when the Blue Devils were defeated by the UConn Huskies in such heartbreaking fashion in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

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Hall of Famer Reggie Miller weighed in on the phenomenon known as Duke hatred, saying that the Blue Devils just give off a “we’re better than you” vibe that rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

Duke’s vibe

Speaking to veteran sports broadcaster Dan Patrick, Miller said Duke feels a lot like the New York Knicks — the team he feuded with often during the 1990s.

“Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball is — they’re a lot like the New York Knicks,” he said. “They just think they’re better than everyone else. That’s all. They think their brand of basketball, their style of basketball, their players are better.”

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There are numerous reasons Duke is disliked. One reason that stands out is their sustained success, especially under former head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who led the Blue Devils to 13 Final Four appearances and 28 conference titles.

However, the most common reason many sports fans dislike Duke basketball is its players and the arrogance with which they carry themselves. From Christian Laettner, who actually had an ESPN 30 for 30 episode made especially for him entitled “I Hate Christian Laettner,” to JJ Redick, who got taunted in every arena he played in, to Grayson Allen, there’s a long list of Duke players who got a bad rep simply because they were part of the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/think-better-everyone-reggie-miller-100900301.html

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Publish date : 2026-04-01 10:09:00

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