By Geoff
Duke forward Maliq Brown shared an update on his health as he prepares for the 2025-26 college basketball season. The 6-foot-9 Syracuse transfer was a guest on “The Brotherhood Podcast” and told teammate and host Caleb Foster that he’s feeling good and injury-free.鈥淚鈥檓 feeling good,鈥 Brown said. 鈥淏oth of us (referring to Foster) have been here the whole summer so just attacking every day. Rehabbing and getting on the court as much as I can.”The incoming senior played quality minutes off the bench for the Blue Devils last season, averaging 2.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game. However, he missed 13 of the team’s 39 games due to two dislocated shoulder injuries that happened on separate occasions.鈥淔or the first time it happened was when we played at (Virginia),鈥 Brown said. 鈥淲hen the (injury) happened, it was just crazy. Especially how it happened.”Following the injury he suffered against the Cavaliers, Brown sat out for at least two weeks and returned in time for the rivalry game against North Carolina on March 8. He re-aggravated the injury in the ACC Tournament against Georgia Tech, sidelining him for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.He returned in the Sweet Sixteen and played in the Elite Eight and Final Four, but he played limited minutes, averaging 1.3 points and 1.7 rebounds over the last three games.Maliq Brown recalls the recovery process as he gets ready for the 2025-26 seasonMaliq Brown recalled his road to recovery from the injuries he suffered during the 2024-25 season and how he was able to suit up for the team’s last three games in the NCAA Tournament.Brown admitted he was psychologically affected by the injuries and had to balance everything to be available for the NCAA Tournament.”The recovery process for that for the first time was just something different. I mean, I had never been hurt for real. Especially being on my shoulder, and then in the ACC Tournament I didn鈥檛 expect it to happen again. I was just balancing that the whole season for real,” Brown recalled.Following the loss to Houston in the Final Four, the forward chose to return for another year with Duke and he’s now undergoing rehabilitation to strengthen the injured shoulder as he prepares for the new season, which will begin in November.”I鈥檓 just trying to add something new, whether it鈥檚 in the rehab or on the court, Brown told Foster. “And then just seeing how you鈥檝e been attacking your workouts, it keeps me motivated to keep going too.鈥漈he forward will be a vital piece in Duke’s roster. Brown, Foster, Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II will bring experience to the rookie-laden but talented Blue Devils crew, who aim to capture their sixth national championship and first since 2015.