In an era defined by athletic spectacle, Cam Boozer’s game is being framed by a far different, and perhaps more important, metric: winning. Those expectations are being defined by someone who knows exactly what it takes to win at the highest level.

That someone is his father, Carlos Boozer, and he isn’t holding back.

In a recent conversation, the former NBA champion made a striking comparison, where he likened his son not to the flashiest names of past eras, but to one of the most fundamentally dominant winners the game has ever seen: Tim Duncan.

“You look at what Tim Duncan did. I’m not comparing Cameron to Tim Duncan, but he was another guy that wasn’t (athletically) a Kevin Garnett or a Tracy McGrady or a Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O’Neal,” Carlos said. “But you know what he did? He won five championships… because of his IQ, because of his skill set, and because his team would follow him.

“That is who Cameron is. He’s a modern-day version of that… So, if you want to win, you pick Cameron.”

That’s not just a bold statement; it’s a very specific one.

Carlos isn’t arguing that Cam Boozer is the most explosive athlete in his class. In fact, that’s been one of the few critiques scouts have floated. Instead, he’s flipping that narrative entirely. The comparison to a five-time champion like Duncan is about control, decision-making, and the kind of presence that elevates everyone else on the floor. And that’s exactly where the Duke Blue Devils’ star has started to separate himself.

At Duke, the freshman forward is putting up 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while impacting both ends of the floor. Whether he’s operating as a traditional big or sliding into a more flexible role, he’s consistently dictated the game rather than just reacting to it.

“He’s all about his teammates,” head coach Jon Scheyer said. “He’s not about numbers, he’s about winning. And I think when your best player’s that way, it becomes contagious.”

And that’s exactly the kind of impact Carlos was pointing to. One that doesn’t just show up on the stat sheet, but shows up in wins.

What’s next for Cam Boozer and the Blue Devils?

The Blue Devils will enter the NCAA Tournament riding serious momentum. They sit at a 32-2 record and secured an ACC Tournament title. And at the center of it all has been Boozer, who hasn’t just contributed, but led.

Through the season, the freshman has paced Duke in points, rebounds, and assists, doing a little bit of everything for a team that has quickly turned into a title contender.

However, the path forward starts now.

Duke will open its tournament run on Thursday against the Siena Saints at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, with tip-off set for 2:50 PM ET on CBS. On paper, it’s a favorable matchup, but Siena won’t be making it easy.

Siena comes in with a 23-11 record and a MAAC Tournament title, leaning on a disciplined, defensive approach. Coached by former Syracuse standout Gerry McNamara, the Saints play at one of the slowest paces in the country. They rely heavily on mid-range scoring and limiting fouls. Their backcourt duo of Gavin Doty and Justice Shoats drives the offense, while their size inside gives them some physical presence.

Still, this is where Duke’s edge shows.

With defenders like Dame Sarr and Maliq Brown applying pressure across the floor, and Cam Boozer anchoring the offense alongside shooters like Isaiah Evans, the Blue Devils bring a level of versatility and athleticism Siena hasn’t consistently faced this season.

And then there’s Boozer himself.

Despite his dominance, the freshman hasn’t completely escaped criticism. Critiques have constantly questioned his shooting, but Boozer has only leaned into those conversations rather than shying away from them.

“Whoever says my 3-point shot needs to improve clearly just didn’t watch me,” Boozer said. “My senior year of high school, I shot 47% from 3. Right now I’m shooting 40%. So that would just be incorrect.”

It’s that confidence, paired with production, that makes him such a difficult matchup heading into March.

Because while Duke may be favored and widely expected to advance, this tournament has a way of testing everything and everyone.