Jay Williams Snubbed from Fox Sports’ All-Time Duke Basketball List

Fox Sports shared its list of the 10 greatest Blue Devil basketball players of all time, and Williams’ absence raised eyebrows. The list included Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, JJ Redick, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer, Shane Battier, Luol Deng, and Bobby Hurley. While every name on the list has a strong case, leaving off Williams feels like a glaring oversight.

A Storied College Career

Williams' resume at Duke is nearly unmatched. In his three seasons, he was a two-time first-team All-American, two-time first-team All-ACC (plus one third-team selection), the 2000 ACC Tournament MVP, and a two-time NABC Player of the Year. Most notably, he won the National College Player of the Year award and was a critical part of Duke’s 2001 National Championship-winning squad.

Given those accolades, it’s hard to justify why Williams was left out, especially when compared to others on the list. While Tatum, Williamson, and Deng were all immensely talented, they only played one season at Duke and never won a national championship. Williams, on the other hand, not only had longevity but also delivered a title to Durham.

Comparing Williams to Other Blue Devil Greats

Perhaps the most puzzling comparison is Carlos Boozer. Boozer and Williams played together for three seasons, yet Boozer made the list while Williams did not. Boozer was an excellent college player, but his achievements do not match Williams’. If the criteria included NBA success, that would explain Williams’ exclusion, as his pro career was cut short due to a tragic motorcycle accident. However, if NBA careers were a major factor, Christian Laettner would not be ranked so highly.

Another notable snub is Johnny Dawkins, a legendary Blue Devil who graduated in 1986. Fox Sports’ list only includes players who left Duke after the school’s first championship in 1991. While that may provide some consistency, it’s not necessarily logical.

A Missed Call by Fox Sports

Duke’s basketball history is filled with elite players, and difficult decisions must be made when ranking them. However, leaving Jay Williams off this list feels particularly egregious. His dominance at the college level, leadership on a championship team, and individual accolades should have solidified his place among Duke’s all-time greats. While lists like these will always spark debate, Williams’ exclusion is hard to defend.

Fans were also not pleased to see several of their favorite Duke players left off the list as well. Here are a few posts from fans: