Alaska’s Carlos Boozer reflects on Hall of Fame legacy, relishes success of next generation during March Madness

There isn’t much in the realm of high school, collegiate and professional basketball that Juneau’s Carlos Boozer hasn’t accomplished. He was a two-time state champion at Juneau-Douglas, a national champion at Duke University and an Olympic gold medalist during his standout professional career.

The latter of those accolades is what led to him being immortalized in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He and his fellow members of the legendary “Redeem Team” that won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing were announced as part of the 2025 class in September.

“Honestly, it’s amazing when you think about the people that are in there and our group with our 2008 Olympic team. We had some studs,” Boozer said. “I’m honored to be a part of that team, and obviously, I love this game so much, so to be in a Hall of Fame is a big deal.”

Being on that 2008 Olympic roster was one of the greatest joys of his career. His peers included iconic players such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony as well as fellow stars Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd and Chris Bosh.

“It was the best,” said Boozer, 44. “We just had a different aura about us. Our practices were difficult, tough and challenging. We challenged each other and it was awesome to see us come together as a team. We had our individual skills and we played against each other in the NBA, but on that team, we all became one.”

The experience was especially meaningful because the legendary Mike Krzyzewski was the team’s head coach. A decade earlier, Krzyzewski recruited Boozer from Alaska to Duke University.

“Knowing him so well, it was great to see him coach some of the best players to ever do it and watch them grow under his tutelage,” Boozer said.

Krzyzewski used the same coaching method that guided Boozer and the Blue Devils to a national title in 2001 to lead Team USA to a perfect 8-0 run and Olympic gold.

“He was able to kind of strip us down of our individual egos so that we have one collective ego,” Boozer said. “He does that better than anyone I’ve ever been around.”

Next generation adds to Boozer legacy

Boozer is a staple on the sideline of every Duke game this year, not only because he’s a proud alumnus of the perennial powerhouse program but because his twin sons, Cameron and Cayden, are star players for the top-ranked Blue Devils.

“I’m living the dream,” Boozer said. “I couldn’t be any happier for them. I know what they’re going through ,and I was super proud when they made the decision (to go to Duke) and to just watch them this year.”

Cameron is the team’s leading scorer, and Cayden is the fifth-leading scorer. They rank first and second on the team in assists.

With the Boozer twins leading the way, Duke basketball is back on top once again and primed to make a run at the national title. The Blue Devils have been the top-ranked team in the nation for several months and were the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament. They sport an overall record of 33-2 after Thursday’s opening-round scare against No. 16 Siena in which the Blue Devils had to rally from being down double figures to win 71-65.

“Cameron has been the best overall player in the country all year long and Cayden has had to step up with Caleb Foster having a broken foot,” Boozer said. “He’s been a star in his role as a sixth man off the bench, and now he’s a starting point guard and leading the No. 1 team in the country — and is doing a hell of a job at that as he helped us win the ACC tournament.”

Watching them don the same colors and uniforms he did a quarter-century ago makes him nostalgic, and even gives him chills.

“I’m just so excited for my boys because I know the weight they have to carry when they wear that jersey,” Boozer said. “Wearing a Duke uniform is like playing for the Yankees or the Lakers. It’s championships or bust.

“They’re not ducking no smoke. They want all the smoke and will play anybody anywhere,” Boozer said.

The twins considered other school options before landing on Duke. Current head coach Jon Scheyer took over the program in 2022 after Krzyzewski’s retirement.

“They were good last year too with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel and that group,” Boozer said. “This just speaks to how good a coach Scheyer is: They lose their entire starting five to the NBA, and then they come back this year, my boys come, and they’re the No. 1 overall seed and No. 1 team in the country.”

Had it not been for a couple of last-minute lapses against Texas Tech in December and rival North Carolina at Chapel Hill in February, Duke would have been undefeated heading into March Madness.

“I’m super proud of what my boys have been able to accomplish and they got some super studs around them,” Boozer said. “We won the ACC tournament with seven players. That just shows you how tough this team is and how much they believe in each other.”

A man of many talents and interests

When he’s not watching his sons play basketball in person, Boozer stays close to the pro game by helping the front office of the Utah Jazz in the scouting department.

“One of the most awesome jobs that I have is trying to figure out how to resurrect our Utah Jazz program so it can compete for titles,” he said.

Boozer spent the bulk of his 13-year career in the NBA with the Jazz, from 2004 to 2010. During that time, he made both of his All-Star appearances and received All NBA honors for the 2007-08 season. He was honored when the team decided to bring him back into the fold in a new capacity just over a year ago.

“Basketball has always been my life since I was 4 years old, so I’ve always had a passion for that,” he said.

Boozer joins fellow Alaska hoops legend Trajan Langdon, who is currently the president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons, in making the transition from NBA players to executives.

“I just think if you have the passion, the patience (and) the determination for it, it’s best when the players are involved because we’ve walked that path and have done that before,” Boozer said. “We know what it looks like to have a good teammate and someone that’s about winning, someone that can help build a culture in your locker room.”

Before joining Utah’s front office, he had a brief stint as a reality TV star two summers ago on the Bravo dating show “Kings Court.” Boozer, supermodel Tyson Beckford and WWE legend Thaddeus Bullard — aka Titus O’Neil — were courted by 21 female contestants in an effort to find love. Boozer was one of the lucky few who did, as he and girlfriend Janaye Robinson are still together.

From the first day they met, Boozer and Robinson “hit it off right away” and will be coming up on two years together in September.

“I met an awesome woman,” Boozer said.

In addition to his work with the Jazz, Boozer owns a company called Impeccable Development that builds shopping plazas in North and South Carolina.

But being a dad to his three adult sons and a daughter, who will be 7 years old in a few weeks, is the job he’s most proud of.

“I couldn’t be any prouder to be their father,” Boozer said.