Nolan Smith: Invested in What's Next
2 minutes
Nolan's desire to see Black brilliance in Durham permeates Duke and beyond.
Posted By Ashley Strahm on Feb 17, 2020
“I experience Black history in Durham by … living in Durham. I think wherever I go, I see so many beautiful Black people who are doing great things.”
After attending Duke from 2007-2011, Nolan Smith went on to be drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2011 NBA Draft before becoming the Director of Basketball Operations for the Duke University Men’s Basketball team. We’re familiar with seeing him on the sidelines beside Coach K, but Nolan continues to make incredible impacts with student-athletes on and off the court each day.
He says he’s proud to experience Black culture in Durham, from casual cookouts to more formal settings where black brilliance is palpable in our community. Once in a Blue Devil jersey himself, Smith is paying it forward for generations of players developing their talent on the hardwood at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
“Durham is beautiful because of the diversity found here,” he says.
Nolan Smith was interviewed and photographed in Cragg Family Lounge in Cameron Indoor Stadium., a space that serves has a hospitality lounge for Duke Basketball player families on game days and meal space for the Blue Devils during the week.
