The NBA’s 79th season culminated this week with Tuesday’s opening game between the New York Knicks and the defending champion Boston Celtics.

It’s an exciting time for basketball fans because not only is the professional game underway, but that also means college ball is just around the corner.

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As any local will tell you, basketball is big in North Carolina and there is a lot of talent that can be associated with the state.

Take last year’s final, for example.

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, arguably one of the top five talents in the league, and Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks, also one of the NBA’s best, are both Duke basketball products.

And it wasn’t just them in the finals, as both Seth Curry and Dallas’ Dereck Lively II are also former Blue Devils.

Overall, Duke is by far the leader in developing professional talent, with ten former players slated to be starters this season.

And the Blue Devils are not only represented on the field, but also among the coaches and managers.

Atlanta’s Quin Snyder played four years at Duke (1985-1989) and was an assistant there (1995-1999). The Los Angeles Lakers’ new coach, JJ Redick, also played there (2002-2006).

Golden State Warriors general manager Michael Dunleavy moved to Duke (1999-2002), as did Philadelphia 76ers GM Elton Brand (1997-1999). Zach Kleiman, GM of the Memphis Grizzlies, is a graduate of Duke Law.

But it’s not just Duke that has left its mark on the league.

Stephen Curry, one of the greatest basketball players of all time and the NBA’s best three-point shooter, is a graduate of Davidson College and spent most of his childhood in North Carolina when his father Dell Curry played for the Charlotte Hornets. With a new-look Golden State Warriors team, he’s looking to add a fifth title to his resume.

Winston-Salem native and 11-time All-NBA talent Chris Paul is still searching for his first ring in his 20th season. He joins 2023 first overall pick Victor Wembanyama and legendary coach Gregg Popovich in San Antonio this season.

Bam Adebayo, a three-time All-Star and five-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, is a key player for the Miami Heat, but before that he played at Pinetown and High Point Christian Academy.

Even the future looks bright as four players with ties to North Carolina were selected this year and while none are slated to start this year, two have a chance to play big roles on their teams in the near future.

Hickory native and eighth overall pick Rob Dillingham joined a star-studded lineup in Minnesota, and while he’s currently No. 2 on the depth chart behind Mike Conley, it’s only a matter of time before he takes over the 37-year-old’s spot takes over.

The other would be another Duke player, undefeated Jared McCain, who was taken 16th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. McCain still needs time to develop, but with his natural ability to score, he could very easily be an impact player down the line.

The Tar Heels are another blue blood that is usually well represented in the league, but are only expected to have two former players in the starting lineup this year: Brooklyn Net Cameron Johnson and San Antonio Spur Harrison Barnes.

Former NC State twin forwards Caleb and Cody Martin are both still playing in the NBA, and John Collins is another Wake Forest graduate projected to be a starter.

North Carolina has long been a bastion of basketball when it comes to college sports, with 12 NCAA titles among the state’s universities, but it also shows that this talent continues to grow and develop into influential professionals as well.