2024-25 Captains?

In a way, having "captains" on a team is odd. After all, it's a team, and in theory at least, everyone on it is as important as everyone else. You listen to each other because they are your teammates, not because one of them has been designated "captain". Yes, it's a break from the past, but in the NIL era, maybe it gets in the way more than it helps.

Just a thought.
 
I think he also said something similar in a press conference after one of the exhibitions. At first, it felt strange, but after thinking about it, my view is that it is a creative way to make it a meaningful reward for someone interested in leading (and a way to really see who would be a good fit for what Jon wants out of the role), rather than being a default title for the two guys who have been on campus for more than 3 months.
 
My guess is that there are several guys who lead this team, and Scheyer doesn't want to diminish anyone's voice by designating certain guys captains. For example, I've heard a lot of positive things about the way Mason Gillis has been a vocal guy with this group, but it would be sort of weird to name a guy who just got here a captain.
 
Scheyer was asked about naming captains in the Army postgame presser. He says it's an important tradition but needs more than two games to determine who those guys should be. Seems like we have several candidates among the the returning backcourt and three transfers.

 
Scheyer may be waiting to confirm Cooper as a Captain.


Cooper Flagg seems to have it in himself to be a captain, as third-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer still hasn't confirmed any players in that leadership role for the 2024-25 Blue Devils.
Entrusting Flagg with that distinction would be unprecedented for a freshman in Durham. But so is everything else about him.
 
But don't the rules state that the captain has specific duties during the game (notably, allowed to interact with the referees).
So perhaps its a game by game decision?
 
I dunno, but my assumption is that Scheyer thinks EVERYBODY should be a captain. He doesn't want a couple guys leading, and everyone else following. He wants everyone taking responsibility all the time.

That's just my pet theory, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
 
But don't the rules state that the captain has specific duties during the game (notably, allowed to interact with the referees).
So perhaps its a game by game decision?
Maybe in theory. But in reality all the players have equal access to talk to the officials. You regularly see players talking with the officials at dead ball opportunities, not just the captains. The captaincy now is more of an honor thing rather than anything with in-game significance.
 
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