Carlos Boozer Denies Pressuring Sons to Choose Duke

The former Blue Devils star says his sons Cameron and Cayden chose to play together at their father's alma mater on their own.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 7:12am

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In an interview, former NBA player Carlos Boozer denied pressuring his sons Cameron and Cayden to play basketball at Duke University, his alma mater. Boozer said the twins went through the full recruiting process and decided on their own to play together for the Blue Devils, where Carlos had a storied career that included winning a national championship in 2001.

Why it matters

The Boozer family's connection to Duke basketball is a prominent storyline, as Cameron is considered a top NBA draft prospect while Cayden is viewed as a fringe pro. Carlos Boozer's comments help clarify that he did not force his sons to choose Duke, allowing them to make the decision independently.

The details

Carlos Boozer said he "didn't force it on them at all" and that his sons "chose it on their own" after going through the full recruiting process and visiting other schools. He added that if one son had a better option elsewhere, they would have gone to separate colleges, but the twins ultimately decided they wanted to stay together at Duke.

  • Carlos Boozer won the ACC Tournament MVP award in 2002 while playing for Duke.
  • Cameron and Cayden Boozer are currently freshmen on the 2026 Duke basketball team.

The players

Carlos Boozer

A former NBA player who had a storied career at Duke, helping the team win the national championship in 2001.

Cameron Boozer

Carlos Boozer's son, a highly touted freshman basketball player currently suiting up for Duke.

Cayden Boozer

Carlos Boozer's other son, a freshman basketball player also on the Duke team.

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What they’re saying

“I didn't force it on them at all. They chose it on their own. They went through the entire recruiting process. They met all the coaches. They went on their official visits, and they decided to play together at Duke. I was obviously extremely happy about that.”

— Carlos Boozer, Former NBA player

What’s next

Duke will look to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament when it takes on St. John's on Friday.

The takeaway

The Boozer family's connection to Duke basketball remains strong, as Carlos' sons Cameron and Cayden chose to play for the Blue Devils on their own accord rather than being pressured by their father, who had a storied career at the school.