Did you know ... there are SIX former Duke Blue Devils with the New Orleans Pelicans -- 5 players and the General Manager -- and Jahlil Okafor LOVES it!
"It's a brotherhood," Okafor tells TMZ Sports ... "We're all connected no matter when he played at Duke."
Of course besides Okafor (who played with Duke for 1 season in '15) ... you've got Zion Williamson, JJ Redick, Brandon Ingram, Frank Jackson and GM Trajan Langdon, who played at Duke from '94 to '99.
"We all have each other's back and it's amazing that we're all together on the Pelicans," Okafor told us Sunday outside Staples Center.
Okafor praised all of his Duke teammates -- and even gave us an update on Zion, who's missed every game this season with a knee injury.
"He looks good," Okafor said ... "He's in high spirits, he's doing all the right things to get himself back on the court."
Zion is expected to return to the Pels in December -- and Okafor says the team can't wait to finally get the #1 overall NBA Draft pick back.
The Pels are currently 6-11 and lost to the Clippers on Sunday -- but everyone's expecting big things from Zion who could shake things up as soon as he gets on the court.