Syracuse, N.Y. – Former Syracuse forward Maliq Brown has rejoined Duke’s practices and could be available as early as this weekend, per a report from The Athletic’s Brandon Marks.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer noted that Brown’s return will depend on his conditioning. The Blue Devils face archrival North Carolina on Saturday, and if he’s ready, Brown may see action then—setting the stage for his potential return to the JMA Dome against Syracuse next Wednesday. Brown has been sidelined since Jan. 11 with a sprained knee.
His comeback is expected to be a major storyline when Duke visits Syracuse, along with what could be the only Dome appearance for Duke’s star freshman, Cooper Flagg. Brown, who transferred from Syracuse to an ACC rival, is likely to receive a hostile reception from Orange fans. He would have played a key role for Syracuse this season but opted to join Duke instead.
At Duke, Brown’s minutes have dropped from nearly 30 per game to 18, with averages of 2.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. However, his defensive impact remains strong—leading the Blue Devils with 1.5 steals per game. While Duke has managed to win in his absence, Scheyer acknowledged that Brown’s ability to disrupt opponents on defense has been missed.
Last season at Syracuse, Brown averaged 9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds, shooting an impressive 69.8% from the field. While his stats have declined at Duke, he is now part of a championship-contending team.
The Blue Devils, ranked No. 2 in the nation with a 17-2 record, are led by Flagg, a projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
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