Duke’s Cayden Boozer Looks Up to Kings Star Russell Westbrook

Before arriving at Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball, guard Cayden Boozer had already spent much of his childhood around the NBA.

The son of former All-Star Carlos Boozer, Boozer grew up inside NBA arenas, locker rooms and team facilities. Those early experiences helped shape his love for the game — and the type of player he hopes to become.

Among the NBA stars he watched growing up, one stood out for his relentless energy and competitive drive: Russell Westbrook.

“I think one of my favorite players is Russell Westbrook,” Boozer told Heavy Sports in an exclusive interview. “I just feel like he’s always been a really elite player, plays really hard and just does whatever his team needs him to do.”

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Russell Westbrook’s Relentless Style Stands Out

Westbrook’s career has long been defined by intensity, athleticism and an all-around impact on the game. A former NBA MVP and one of the league’s most dynamic guards, he built his reputation on relentless effort and competitiveness.

That mentality left a lasting impression on Boozer.

For the young Duke guard, Westbrook’s willingness to affect the game in multiple ways — scoring, rebounding and playmaking — represents the kind of approach he admires most.

“He plays really hard and just does whatever his team needs him to do,” Boozer said.

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Growing Up Around the NBA

Basketball was never far away during Boozer’s childhood.

His father, Carlos Boozer, built a 13-year NBA career that included All-Star appearances with the Utah Jazz and later stints with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Because of that career, Cayden and his twin brother Cameron Boozer spent much of their youth observing the professional game up close.

“I think obviously having a dad playing that major so it puts us in a lot of great situations that we were just able to be around the game for basically our entire lives,” Cayden said.

“Whether that’s going to the Bulls facility or obviously watching playoff games.

“But just think of being around the game for so long, just embedded that love of the game that we have today.”

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Building His Own Role at Duke

Now starring for Duke, Boozer is beginning to carve out his own path at the college level.

Now starring for Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball, Boozer is beginning to carve out his own path at the college level.

While his twin brother Cameron has emerged as one of the most dominant players in college basketball, Cayden has established a steady role in Duke’s backcourt rotation.

The freshman guard is averaging 6.8 points and 2.8 assists in 20.7 minutes per game this season while helping power the Blue Devils’ success.

Cameron Boozer has been the team’s leading force, averaging 22.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as Duke climbed to the No. 1 ranking in the nation.

While Cameron continues to appear prominently in early NBA mock drafts, Cayden Boozer has not yet been widely projected as a lottery selection.

That leaves open the possibility that Cayden could return to Duke for another season before entering the NBA draft.

“There’s a lot of season left, so we’ll see what happens at the end of the season,” Boozer told Heavy Sports. “But right now, just focusing on what I can do each and every day to get better.”

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Growing Spotlight for the Boozer Twins

The Boozer twins’ rising profile has also extended beyond the court.

Cameron and Cayden recently appeared together in a national advertising campaign with State Farm, starring in the brand’s “Will You Be There?” basketball commercial — a reflection of their growing visibility in the sport.

Still, for Cayden Boozer, the foundation of his basketball journey remains rooted in the players he admired growing up.

Watching stars like Russell Westbrook compete with relentless intensity helped shape his understanding of the game long before he arrived at Duke.

Now developing his own career with the Blue Devils, Boozer continues to draw inspiration from the same competitive spirit that made Westbrook one of the NBA’s most electrifying guards.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo