Maliq Brown initially dislocated his left shoulder during Duke’s road win over Virginia in mid-February. He returned to the court a few weeks later, only to re-aggravate the injury just two games into his comeback. After another two-week recovery period, Brown was back in action for the Sweet 16 and remained in the lineup throughout the Blue Devils’ run to the Final Four in the 2024-25 season.
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When healthy, the long-armed Brown was a defensive force across the floor, serving as a game-changing X-factor for Jon Scheyer’s 35-win Duke team. The 21-year-old transferred to Durham last year after leading the ACC in steals (71) as a sophomore at Syracuse, and he’s expected to play an even more prominent role in Scheyer’s fourth year at the helm.
Naturally, his full recovery from that lingering shoulder issue is critical.
A few minutes into this week’s episode of The Brotherhood Podcast, Brown gave an update on his rehab efforts while chatting with Duke junior guard Caleb Foster, offering insight into his offseason progress toward getting back to full strength.
“I’m feeling good — both of us have been here all summer, just staying locked in, rehabbing, and getting back on the court as much as possible,” Brown said. “I’m adding something new every day — whether it’s in the rehab process or on the court — especially each week. The goal is just to keep building.”
He continued, “Man, it feels great to be back in the weight room. I feel like a new man — just being able to put some weight on the bar, get some curls in, and not just be the guy watching anymore. Now I’m more involved, more a part of the team again. And it feels better every day.”
A 2023-24 All-ACC Defensive Team honoree while at Syracuse, Brown averaged only 2.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 26 games last season. But the 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward — with a wingspan north of 7 feet — made his presence felt on defense. He led Duke in steals per 40 minutes by a wide margin, racking up 3.2 per 40, nearly doubling the next closest Blue Devil: freshman phenom Cooper Flagg at 1.8.
“He’s hands down the best defender I’ve ever played with,” Foster said during their 30-minute sit-down. “Honestly, probably the best I’ve seen with my own eyes…”
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