Former Duke forward Wendell Carter, Jr. successfully entered the next chapter of his basketball career Thursday when he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls seventh-overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Before being drafted, however, the former Pace Academy student wrote a letter in “The Players’ Tribune” titled “Ready to Fly” in which he discussed how his family, especially his father, encouraged him to work hard enough to earn the opportunities he’s currently being given in the NBA.
Carter also discussed how special the city of Atlanta is to him, especially Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport where both his parents worked and where he spent so much time over the past few months while traveling to try out for NBA teams.
“My parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins — they all go to work every day,” Carter wrote. “And I can’t recall a single time that I ever heard one of them complain. Life is always about hard work and caring about the people close to you... The real payoff is that unbreakable bond you share with each other. A family forever. Prepared for anything.
“So yeah, I think I’m ready for life in the NBA. Because like everything in my life so far, I know that I won’t have to go through it alone.”
Carter averaged 13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, two assists and 2.1 blocks in his freshman year at Duke.
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