Duke’s Cameron and Cayden Boozer get one last ride together. Carlos Boozer isn’t missing a minute.

Carlos Boozer has attended 32 of the 34 Duke men’s basketball games this season to watch his alma mater and, more importantly, his twin sons.

The former Duke star has watched Cameron and Cayden play countless games together since they first picked up a basketball. Knowing that this may be the final lap for the Boozer twins as teammates, the two-time NBA All-Star and their mother, CeCe, are appreciating every second.

“That’s why I ain’t missing no games,” Carlos Boozer told Andscape. “I told CeCe this could be the last time our boys play together. Cam is coming into the [NBA] draft and Cayden’s most likely coming back to school. Even when Cayden does go pro, whether that’s next year or whatever, who knows how the NBA is going to play out if they’ll ever play together again?

“So, that’s why I ain’t missing no games. We have to go to as many games as possible, and we’re not taking it for granted. And the best thing about it is they’re not taking it for granted because they’re aware of it, too.”

Cameron Boozer averaged 22.5 points on 56.5% shooting and 10.2 rebounds per game for Duke this season as a freshman. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, he is projected to receive several national player of the year honors after leading Duke to a 32-2 record, an Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season and tournament title, and a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Boozer also recorded a career-high 35 points against Arkansas on Nov. 27 and has led Duke in scoring, rebounds and assists six times.

Duke has had a long list of incredible freshmen who are current or former NBA players, including former No. 1 picks Elton Brand, Cooper Flagg, Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero and Kyrie Irving. Carlos Boozer believes Cameron may be the best freshman to don a Blue Devils jersey.

“Cam has had one of the best seasons of any college basketball player,” Carlos Boozer said. “He’s 18. He’s not like a junior that’s 20 years old; he’s been in college for six months. And the kid averaged almost 23 points a game, over 10 rebounds, has dominated the ACC, which is much more competitive than it’s been in recent years. He’s gone against some of the best players.

“He’s gone against the Florida frontcourt that people thought was the best in the country, had a 30 ball [actually 29 points] against them and a [win]. He went against Michigan. Other people thought they were the best frontcourt in the country. [Duke] got that win and [he] almost had a triple-double in that game in D.C. He’s taken on all the challenges.”

Said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer on Cameron Boozer: “He’s just a special guy, and he’s really mature with his approach. I think that’s the difference with him. And he’s been incredible for us.”

Duke has won five national titles, the last coming in 2015. The top-seed Blue Devils will play No. 16 Siena in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday in Greenville, South Carolina.

Cameron Boozer is excited about Duke’s prospects in March Madness.

“If we take the right steps every day — just growing, playing together as a team — by the time March comes, we’re going to be prepared and it’s going to be even more enjoyable than what we think,” Cameron Boozer told Andscape after the Blue Devils defeated Cal 71-56 in Berkeley on Jan. 14.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo lists Cameron Boozer as the third-best prospect in what is expected to be an exceptional 2026 NBA draft. Some NBA executives have told Andscape that Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson are freshmen who could be selected in the draft before Cameron Boozer.

One NBA scout told Andscape that Cameron Boozer is a winner and a leader, but athleticism is a huge concern.

Carlos Boozer says while his son may not have a “40-inch vertical,” he is an elite worker and leader, and his “skill set, IQ and will to win set him apart.” The 13-year NBA veteran added that teams passing on his son will regret it.

“There are not that many guys that can be an 18-year-old on the biggest stage in college basketball like Duke basketball — [and] with what comes with that — and the entire team will follow him,” Carlos Boozer said. “You know why they do that with Cameron? Because he gives so much to the game. He gives so much to his team. Whatever it takes, he’s an unselfish superstar, and that translates to the NBA.

“You look at what Tim Duncan did. I’m not comparing Cameron to Tim Duncan, but he was another guy that wasn’t [athletically] a Kevin Garnett or a Tracy McGrady or a Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O’Neal. But you know what he did? He won five championships in that era [against] those players — the Kobes and the Shaqs, because of his IQ, because of his skill set, and because his team would follow him.

“That is who Cameron is. He’s a modern-day version of that. People are going to follow him because of what he gives to the team and what he gives to the game. That translates into winning. So. if you want to win, you pick Cameron. And I’m going to tell you this: The GMs that don’t pick Cam, they’re going to regret that 15 years from now.”

As for Cayden Boozer, he is expected to return for his sophomore season at Duke.

A guard at 6-4 and 205 pounds, he has averaged 7.1 points and 2.8 assists in 21.8 minutes per game this season. Woo didn’t list Cayden Boozer among his top 60 prospects in the 2026 NBA draft. One NBA scout told Andscape it would be best for him to return to school for more development.

Cayden Boozer was inserted as Duke’s starting point guard after Caleb Foster was lost indefinitely after fracturing his right foot on March 7. A week later in the ACC tournament championship game in Charlotte, Cayden Boozer lifted the Blue Devils with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and the game-sealing steal in a 74-70 victory over Virginia.

Duke’s new starting point guard will get a chance to show his talents to NBA scouts during the NCAA tournament.

“Right now, the plan is to come back and develop his sophomore year,” Carlos Boozer said. “But with this injury that Caleb Foster [has], who knows? And one thing I [can] tell you about this with Cayden, he’s handled this amazingly. He’s been a starter his entire life. He’s won his entire life, the same as Cameron, and he was asked to be the sixth man this year. He was a star in his role coming off the bench and playing his part. He played like 20 minutes a game in the regular season.

“We wish the best for Caleb. Caleb’s been an amazing leader for this group. He’s the most experienced guy we have on our team, been to the Elite Eight, been to the Final Four last year, as you know. So, we’re definitely going to miss him, but he’s taught Cayden so much about Duke basketball and how to lead. So, Cayden’s ready for this challenge. The play right now is to come back for a sophomore year. But let’s see what happens in the next [six] games.”

Carlos Boozer averaged 14.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game at Duke from 1999-2002. He played a pivotal role in the Blue Devils winning a 2001 NCAA championship, and he remains Duke’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (63.1). He was inducted into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.

The Boozer twins considered Miami and Florida before following in their father’s big footsteps to Duke. Along with the pressure of being a Boozer at Duke, there was even more pressure that came from the high expectations of playing for college basketball’s most followed program. Carlos Boozer says it’s “been a dream come true” and “incredible” to see his sons not only follow him to Duke but overcome the pressure that comes with playing there.

“I’m just proud of them for going through the fire,” Carlos Boozer said. “I know the weight that gets carried when you put on that Duke uniform. The expectations are through the roof, the players that have played in that jersey before you. … And then multiply that times 10 when your dad won a championship there, and he’s in the Hall of Fame there, had a good career in the NBA, and the pressure that comes with that.

“They could have chosen a different path. They could have chosen a path that’s just for them that has no history behind it. They’re making their own history. They could have chosen to go to University of Miami. But my boys, one thing I’ll tell you about my boys, they don’t duck no smoke. They want all the smoke. And I know what that’s like because I was the same way. They are cut from this cloth, and it’s in their blood to be that way. So, I’m proud of them.”

Cameron Boozer said an added benefit of playing at Duke is that it prepares you for the NBA and you get to be a part of its renowned “Duke Brotherhood” of former players.

“You deal with pressure with preparation,” Cameron Boozer said. “It takes away nervousness. You’re still going to be nervous and stuff like that. But when you prepare, you feel more confident going into it, and that’s just the main thing. You never really know what’s going to happen in the game, but just accepting that and taking it head on.

“We play very spaced out on offense and then just the high level of competition we play. We’ve had one of the toughest nonconference schedules. So, just being able to be at a school like this, having a target on your back, it definitely prepares you mentally for whatever’s going to be thrown your way at the next level. And then just playing in big-time games prepares you.”

Added Cayden Boozer to ESPN SportsCenter: “We take pride in our family name. I love my family. I’m never going to turn away from that. I’m always going to be a Boozer. I’m always going to rep that. But at the same time, carving out your own path, there is no better place to do that than Duke with the spotlight that you get each and every game. It’s an opportunity to prove yourself every single night. Even though I’m going to the same school as [my father], I’m still allowed to make my own legacy.”

While injury-plagued, Duke enters the NCAA tournament ranked No. 1 in the country. If the Boozer twins and Duke win a national championship, the Boozer family will change the record books. Former UCLA stars Marques Johnson and his son, Kris, are the only father-son duo to win an NCAA championship at the same school. Former Indiana star Scott May and his son Sean, who played at North Carolina, are the only other father-son duo to win national titles.

During the “Hear District” podcast last week, the Johnsons said the Boozers could give them company in the record books.

“This may be their year,” Kris Johnson said.

Said Marques Johnson: “All right Kris, we got to milk that as long as we can. Another couple weeks at least, man. We got to get what we can out of it.”

Championship or not, the Boozer twins are adding to the family legacy at Duke in what could be their final season together. Like father, like son, Cameron acknowledged he is also being a little sentimental about this season playing with his twin brother.

“You never know what can happen at the next level, so we’re definitely enjoying it,” Cameron Boozer said. “But there’s nothing we can do about it besides just play, enjoy it.”

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