Chris Duarte's Pets

Chris Duarte is a Dominican-American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), selected as the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Before joining the NBA, Duarte played college basketball for the Northwest Florida State Raiders and the Oregon Ducks, earning the title of Pac-12 Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American selection in 2021. His professional debut was notable for scoring 27 points, a record for a Pacers rookie since the ABA-NBA merger.

In college, Duarte’s achievements included leading the Oregon Ducks to an NCAA tournament appearance and securing the Jerry West Award in 2021, which is awarded to the top collegiate shooting guard in the nation. His defensive skills were also recognized, being named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.

Throughout his career, Duarte has collaborated with influential figures in the basketball world. At Oregon, he was coached by Dana Altman, who played a significant role in developing Duarte’s skills and basketball IQ. In the NBA, his growth has been further shaped by interactions with Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle and teammates such as Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, and Myles Turner.