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Cameron Boozer of the Duke Blue Devils looks on during the first half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Before arriving at Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball, forward Cameron 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 practice facilities. Being around the professional game at such a young age helped shape both his love for basketball and the type of player he hopes to become.
Among the NBA stars who influenced his game, one stands out in particular: Washington Wizards star Anthony Davis.
“My favorite team is Duke basketball, for sure,” Boozer told Heavy Sports in an exclusive interview. “And then I would say one of the players is Anthony Davis.”
Anthony Davis’ Versatility Inspires Cameron Boozer
GettyWashington Wizards star Anthony Davis has inspired a lot of up-and-coming players, including projected top-three pick Cameron Boozer of Duke.
Davis has long been regarded as one of the NBA’s most versatile big men — capable of dominating defensively while scoring both inside and outside.
For Boozer, that all-around impact is what makes the Wizards star such an influential figure in his development.
The Duke freshman has built his own reputation on a similarly versatile style, blending size, skill and playmaking ability to impact the game on multiple levels.
Boozer has emerged as one of the most dominant players in college basketball this season, averaging 22.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while helping Duke climb to the No. 1 ranking in the nation.
With Selection Sunday approaching, the Blue Devils are widely projected to earn one of the four No. 1 seeds in the upcoming NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Growing Up Around the NBA
Basketball was never far away during Boozer’s childhood.
His father Carlos enjoyed 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, Cameron and his twin brother Cayden Boozer spent much of their youth observing the NBA 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.”
Boozer Twins Rising at Duke
While Cameron has emerged as Duke’s centerpiece this season, Cayden has carved out his own role in the Blue Devils’ backcourt.
The freshman guard is averaging 6.8 points and 2.8 assists in 20.7 minutes per game, helping Duke maintain its position as the nation’s top-ranked team.
The twins’ rising popularity 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.
March Madness Could Shape the No. 1 Pick Debate
With Duke entering March Madness as the nation’s top-ranked team, Cameron Boozer will be one of the most closely watched players in the tournament.
NBA scouts have largely centered the early draft debate on three prospects: Boozer, Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa. Each brings a different skill set to the discussion as evaluators begin projecting the next wave of franchise players.
For Boozer, however, the NBA draft conversation remains far from his focus as Duke enters the most important stretch of the season.
“I’m not really focusing on that,” Boozer told Heavy Sports. “I’m just focusing on what I got to do to help my team win right now.
“Obviously, we have some big games coming up, so I’ll just kind of do whatever I can to help my team win.”
Still, the race for the projected No. 1 pick could carry significant implications for several teams at the bottom of the NBA standings — including the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards are currently tied with the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings with the best odds (14%) to land the No. 1 selection in the upcoming NBA draft.
Should Washington secure one of the top three picks and select Boozer, the Duke star could potentially find himself sharing the frontcourt with the very player he grew up admiring — Anthony Davis.
When asked what separates him from Peterson and Dybantsa in the debate for the No. 1 pick, Boozer offered a simple answer.
“I’ll just say that I’m a winner,” Boozer said. “At every level I’ve played at, and I’ll continue at the next level.”
If that scenario unfolds, Boozer’s path from watching Davis as a young fan to potentially playing alongside him in Washington could become one of the NBA’s more intriguing storylines next season.
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
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