When basketball fans reflect on Duke University’s illustrious hoops history, names like Mike Krzyzewski, Christian Laettner, and Zion Williamson dominate the conversation. But tucked away in the pre-Krzyzewski era is the unsung hero whose courage and talent helped lay the cornerstone of what would become college basketball’s most polarizing dynasty: Gene Banks.
In the late 1970s, Duke was a far cry from the powerhouse it is today. The Blue Devils had just one NCAA Final Four appearance in the previous three decades and little national relevance. That changed in 1977 when Gene Banks, a top-5 high school prospect out of Philadelphia, made a decision that stunned the basketball world: he committed to Duke—a school with no recent basketball pedigree, no major stars, and no guarantees.
At a time when top Black athletes were choosing basketball blue bloods like UCLA, Indiana, or North Carolina, Banks took a gamble on a program trying to find its footing. Many questioned the decision, even accusing Banks of throwing away a sure path to stardom. But the charismatic forward had a vision—and the audacity to see it through.
In his freshman year, Banks helped lead Duke to the NCAA championship game, their first in nearly two decades. Though they lost to Kentucky in 1978, the appearance sent a shockwave through the college basketball landscape. Banks averaged 17.1 points and 8.6 rebounds over his career, and his swagger, leadership, and refusal to quit on a struggling program set a cultural tone Duke would carry for decades.
“Gene Banks made Duke cool before it was cool,” said former teammate and NBA veteran Mike Gminski. “He believed in this place before the trophies, before the cameras, before Coach K.”
Though Banks would never win a national championship, his courage to buck the system and uplift a floundering team helped make Duke a viable destination for future stars. When Coach Krzyzewski arrived in 1980, he inherited a program already infused with belief—and much of that was thanks to Banks.
As Duke celebrates over four decades of dominance, the story of Gene Banks is once again echoing through Cameron Indoor Stadium. Forgotten by many, foundational to all—Banks didn’t just play for Duke. He built Duke.
