Fans saying we HATE him as the now criticize the Former Duke Basketball forward strikes Magic paydirt Due To…

Fans saying we HATE him as the now criticize the Former Duke Basketball forward strikes Magic paydirt Due To…

 

 

 

 

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💥 FANS SAY “WE HATE HIM” As Former Duke Basketball Forward Strikes Magic Paydirt – Shocking NBA Payoff Sparks Outrage and Applause Due To…

 

The NBA offseason is filled with unexpected moves, breakout stars, and jaw-dropping contracts—but nothing could’ve prepared fans for the latest twist involving a former Duke Blue Devil forward who just secured a massive deal with the Orlando Magic.

 

While the ink on the deal is still fresh, the reaction from fans has already gone completely nuclear.

 

> Some are calling it a “well-earned reward.”

Others are accusing him of betrayal, underperformance, and empty hype.

And a large chunk of Duke’s loyal fanbase has taken to social media to scream one thing:

 

 

 

“WE HATE HIM.”

 

Why such a split reaction?

 

It all comes down to what this player just pulled off—and why so many feel he never deserved it in the first place.

 

Let’s dive into the chaos surrounding the rise, fall, and sudden financial resurrection of a Duke product now cashing out in Orlando.

 

 

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🧩 WHO’S THE PLAYER IN QUESTION?

 

Sources close to the Orlando Magic front office confirm that the deal in question involves former Duke forward Jalen Johnson, the ultra-talented but controversial wing who shocked college basketball in 2021 when he opted to leave the Blue Devils mid-season to prepare for the NBA Draft.

 

Back then, the move ignited a firestorm of criticism, with some calling him “selfish,” “soft,” or “a locker room distraction.” He was labeled a quitter by a vocal segment of the fanbase—and even now, years later, those wounds haven’t fully healed.

 

> But while fans were busy hating, Johnson was grinding.

 

 

 

And this week, he struck NBA gold.

 

 

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💰 THE CONTRACT THAT STARTED IT ALL

 

Multiple outlets, including The Athletic and ESPN, confirm the numbers:

 

Jalen Johnson signs a 4-year extension with the Orlando Magic worth up to $82 million, including performance bonuses and incentives.

 

 

Yes, you read that right:

$82 million for a player who many Duke fans still refuse to support.

 

And almost immediately, the reaction split into two fiery factions:

 

 

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🔥 FANS WHO SUPPORT HIM SAY:

 

“He bet on himself and WON.”

 

“Jalen Johnson is finally showing the league who he really is.”

 

“Y’all hated him at Duke, but he’s out here getting the bag and balling.”

 

 

 

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💣 FANS WHO STILL FEEL BETRAYED SAY:

 

“He QUIT on Duke. We don’t claim him.”

 

“82 MILLION? For a guy who dipped mid-season?”

 

“This is why loyalty doesn’t matter anymore—clout chasers get rewarded.”

 

 

 

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😱 WHY THE HATE STILL RUNS DEEP IN DURHAM

 

Let’s rewind to 2021:

 

Jalen Johnson came to Duke as a top-15 recruit, hyped as a do-it-all forward with NBA-ready tools.

 

But what fans got was:

 

Just 13 games played

 

An abrupt mid-season opt-out

 

Zero postseason impact

 

And the sense that Johnson viewed Duke as a temporary stepping stone

 

 

The fanbase? Livid.

 

Coach K handled it with class, but insiders say the move caused tension in the locker room and shook team morale during one of the most disappointing Duke seasons in recent history.

 

Now, years later, that anger hasn’t faded.

 

> In fact, this new contract just poured gasoline on the fire.

 

 

 

 

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📈 THE NBA RISE THAT NO ONE SAW COMING

 

After slipping in the 2021 draft to the Atlanta Hawks, Johnson quietly developed behind the scenes.

 

He improved his handle.

 

He bulked up his frame.

 

He turned into a versatile defender and transition threat.

 

And after being traded to Orlando, he flourished.

 

 

Last season, he averaged:

 

14.8 points

 

7.1 rebounds

 

2.8 assists

 

1.2 steals

 

On 49% shooting

 

 

And more importantly:

He became a key piece of a young, rising Magic core alongside Paolo Banchero—another Duke product.

 

> “He fits what we’re building,” one Magic exec told The Ringer.

“Positionless, aggressive, skilled. He earned this contract.”

 

 

 

 

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🗣️ WHAT JALEN JOHNSON HIMSELF SAID

 

When asked about the criticism he still receives from Duke fans, Johnson didn’t hold back:

 

> 🗣️ “I made the decision I felt was best for me at the time. I don’t regret it. People can hate, but I’m still here.”

 

 

 

He also dropped this subtle shot:

 

> “I’m grateful to the coaches who believed in me—even when the fans didn’t.”

 

 

 

Oof.

 

Cue the social media explosion.

 

 

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🔥 DUKE FANS NOW TURN ON EACH OTHER

 

Even within Duke Nation, the war of opinions has sparked a civil war:

 

“He left, but he’s still a Blue Devil. Let the man live.”

 

“Nope. He quit. Once a quitter, always a quitter.”

 

“I hope Paolo doesn’t follow his example.”

 

“Y’all are pressed that he made $80 million. Get over it.”

 

 

And perhaps the most viral fan post of the week?

 

> “Jalen Johnson got paid, and all we got was a 13-game sample and a broken season. Yeah, we HATE him.”

 

 

 

 

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👀 COACH JON SCHEYER’S SILENT RESPONSE

 

While Duke’s current staff hasn’t made any official statement, insiders say Jon Scheyer has referenced Johnson’s decision privately to incoming recruits as a “reminder that culture matters more than clout.”

 

He’s also reportedly doubled down on recruiting high-character, team-first prospects over one-and-done talent with shaky buy-in.

 

> “We’re not just building stars,” one coach reportedly told a recruit.

“We’re building leaders. We’re building Duke men.”

 

 

 

Read: no more Jalen Johnsons.

 

 

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💡 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR DUKE’S IMAGE?

 

The backlash around Johnson’s NBA success reveals a deeper tension inside the program’s fanbase:

 

Can you “represent Duke” if you left mid-season?

 

Is success post-Duke enough to earn forgiveness?

 

And where does loyalty fit in the modern era of NIL and NBA-first thinking?

 

 

Right now, there are no easy answers.

 

What’s clear is this:

Jalen Johnson is rich, rising, and unapologetic.

And Duke fans are going to have to decide whether they want to keep hating… or start letting go.

 

 

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🔮 FINAL TAKE: LOVE HIM OR LOATHE HIM — HE GOT THE LAST LAUGH

 

At the end of the day, Jalen Johnson did what many thought he couldn’t:

 

He survived the backlash

 

He carved out an NBA role

 

He dominated in Orlando

 

And he just secured generational wealth

 

 

> Fans can scream “WE HATE HIM” all they want.

But the scoreboard?

$82 million.

And that, as reports claim, changes everything.

 

 

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