The 75th NBA season tipped off this month and 11 Tar Heels are taking to the NBA floor this season; Harrison Barnes, Cole Anthony, Nassir Little, Cam Johnson, Reggie Bullock, Danny Green, Coby White, Wayne Ellington, Tony Bradley, Day’Ron Sharpe and Ed Davis.
Tar Heel International will provide the latest statistics and highlights on the Tar Heels playing in the NBA.
Harrison Barnes is taking all the headlines with his performances through October. Reggie Bullock has found himself a new location this season after signing for Dallas. Danny Green signed a two-year extension at Philadelphia 76ers. Nassir Little is reminding everyone how good he can be in Portland. Tony Bradley headed up north to Chicago to join fellow Tar Heel, Coby White and Day’Ron Sharpe is the newest Tar Heel to play in the NBA.
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Harrison Barnes – Sacramento Kings
Harrison Barnes has started the season like a man on a mission. I’m putting it out there, very very early Most Improved Player race! Yes, that is early.
Barnes started the season grabbing all the headlines with 36 points in a win against the Trail Blazers, it was a great performance by Harrison but that was not the only time the media would be all over Barnes. Two days later, Barnes had 25 points and 15 boards in his next game (a career-high of rebounds in a game). That game ended in a loss to the Jazz.
You would have seen Harrison Barnes all over your timelines this past week again after the Kings took on the Suns and the ball was given to HB to take home the win… he delivered. Barnes broke the Suns hearts with a buzzer-beater three-pointer to take the win and if you didn’t know, now you do… Harrison Barnes means business this year.
Barnes is in the Top 20 Scorers as of October in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings 7th in Western Conference Standings with a 3-3 record.
HIGHLIGHTED MOST RECENT GAMES:
124-121 (WIN) vs Portland Trail Blazers
36 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals in 36 minutes
101-111 (LOSS) vs Utah Jazz
25 points, 15 rebounds and 2 steals in 38 minutes
110-107 (WIN) vs Phoenix Suns
22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in 39 minutes
113-109 (WIN) vs New Orleans Pelicans
18 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists in 37 minutes
99-105 (LOSS) vs Dallas Mavericks
15 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in 38 minutes
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG |
| SACRAMENTO KINGS | 2019/20 | 34.5 | 14.5 | 4.9 | 2.2 |
| SACRAMENTO KINGS | 2020/21 | 36.2 | 16.1 | 6.6 | 3.5 |
| SACRAMENTO KINGS | 2021/22 | 37.3 | 23.3 | 10.3 | 2.7 |
Cole Anthony – Orlando Magic
There were some questions early to see how the rotations were going to work at the Orlando Magic with the addition of Jalen Suggs, into a roster already including Markell Fultz, Michael Carter-Williams and of course, Cole Anthony. Fultz and MCW have been out with injuries, given opportunities for Cole and Suggs to build chemistry as a backcourt partnership.
Cole Anthony’s best game so far was his visit to his hometown of New York, where Cole had 29 points, 16 rebounds (a career-high for rebounds in a game) and 8 assists in a win against the Knicks.
Orlando is currently joint bottom of the Eastern Conference with a record of 1-6. Anthony has been averaging 33.2 MPG and will be hoping to help lead his team to more wins in November.
HIGHLIGHTED MOST RECENT GAMES:
110-104 (WIN) vs New York Knicks
29 points, 16 rebounds and 8 assists in 34 minutes
111-120 (LOSS) vs Charlotte Hornets
24 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in 34 minutes
109-110 (LOSS) vs Toronto Raptors
24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 33 minutes
103-110 (LOSS) vs Detroit Pistons
15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists in 35 minutes
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG |
| ORLANDO MAGIC | 2020/21 | 27.1 | 12.9 | 4.7 | 4.1 |
| ORLANDO MAGIC | 2021/22 | 33.2 | 17.7 | 7.4 | 5.3 |
Coby White – Chicago Bulls
Coby White got injured during the summer when away from the team, after having surgery White would be out until mid-November.
Although, the Chicago Bulls did exercise Coby’s fourth-year option on his contract and obviously have belief in the future of White after averaging 15.1 PPG and 4.8 APG in his second NBA season.
Hopefully, we’ll see White hit the court soon and kick off his 2021/22 season.
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | APG | RPG |
| CHICAGO BULLS | 2019/20 | 25.8 | 13.2 | 2.7 | 3.5 |
| CHICAGO BULLS | 2020/21 | 31.2 | 15.1 | 4.8 | 4.1 |
Cam Johnson – Phoenix Suns
Cam Johnson had a memorable season last year, that saw him gain a major role with the Phoenix Suns and reach the NBA Finals. Johnson will be hoping for more success this season and going that extra step.
Johnson has been coming off the bench for the Suns and averaging 21 MPG and 7 PPG. Cam is the go-to option on the wing and attempting five 3 pointers a game.
Cam could have made the headlines worldwide when he tried to attempt to poster LeBron James in the Suns win against the Lakers. Although, he did score 8 points in the NBA Western Conference 2021 Finals rematch.
The Suns have started the season with a 2-3 record and will be hoping to turn that around soon if they want to replicate the same success as last season.
HIGHLIGHTED MOST RECENT GAMES:
98-110 (LOSS) vs Denver Nuggets
11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 23 minutes
115-105 (WIN) vs Los Angeles Lakers
8 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds in 18 minutes
101-92 (WIN) vs Cleveland Cavaliers
10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block in 24 minutes
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | APG | RPG |
| PHOENIX SUNS | 2019/20 | 22.0 | 8.8 | 1.2 | 3.3 |
| PHOENIX SUNS | 2020/21 | 24.0 | 9.6 | 1.4 | 3.3 |
| PHOENIX SUNS | 2021/22 | 21.0 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 2.4 |
Nassir Little – Portland Trail Blazers
Nassir Little is reminding people why he was once one of the top young players in the country with his impact at the start of this season. Little has started two out of the five games for the Blazers and averaged over 25 MPG.
People have been impressed with Little’s contribution so far with his numbers improving over his previous two seasons. It has also been noted about what Little is bringing to the team that is not on the stat sheet and that always pleases fans.
Little is on a well-established team in the Blazers and will be hoping to support the strong backcourt of Lillard and McCollum. The Trail Blazers are currently 8th in the Western Conference with a 3-3 record in October.
HIGHLIGHTED MOST RECENT GAMES:
134-105 (WIN) vs Phoenix Suns
11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in 27 minutes
86-116 (LOSS) vs Los Angeles Clippers
10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 31 minutes
111-92 (WIN) vs Los Angeles Clippers
8 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 24 minutes
113-125 (LOSS) vs Charlotte Hornets
8 points and 6 rebounds in 18 minutes
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | RPG | SPG |
| PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS | 2019/20 | 11.9 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 0.3 |
| PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS | 2020/21 | 13.3 | 4.6 | 2.7 | 0.1 |
| PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS | 2021/22 | 24.1 | 8.8 | 5.7 | 0.8 |
Wayne Ellington – Los Angeles Lakers
Wayne Ellington headed to Hollywood this summer and returned to the Los Angeles Lakers, giving him his best shot of an NBA Championship. The NCAA Champion was recording over 20 MPG in pre-season before he got a Grade 1 hamstring strain and has so far missed the regular-season games.
Ellington should be back on the court soon and it will be interesting to see how the 2009 Most Oustanding Player will fit into this Lakers squad, with rumours in the off-season that Ellington could feature in the starting lineup.
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | APG | SPG |
| NEW YORK KNICKS | 2019/20 | 15.5 | 5.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 |
| DETROIT PISTONS | 2020/21 | 22.0 | 9.6 | 1.5 | 0.4 |
Danny Green – Philadelphia 76ers
3x NBA Champion and 2009 NCAA Champion, Danny Green signed a two-year extension to keep him in Philadelphia after having three teams in the past three seasons.
Danny Green is continuing his role as a starter this season for the Sixers and averages over 24 MPG. The Philadelphia 76ers have been in the news a lot recently, due to the Ben Simmons situation, but Green has helped his team to a 4-2 start to the regular season with his 5.8 PPG. The 76ers are 6th in the Eastern Conference.
HIGHLIGHTED MOST RECENT GAMES:
115-103 (WIN) vs Oklahoma City Thunder
11 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block in 28 minutes
99-112 (LOSS) vs New York Knicks
12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block in 24 minutes
122-94 (WIN) vs Atlanta Hawks
6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 22 minutes
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | RPG | SPG |
| LOS ANGELES LAKERS | 2019/20 | 24.0 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 1.3 |
| PHILADELPHIA 76ERS | 2020/21 | 28.0 | 9.5 | 3.8 | 1.3 |
| PHILADELPHIA 76ERS | 2021/22 | 24.1 | 5.8 | 2.7 | 1.2 |
Reggie Bullock – Dallas Mavericks
Reggie Bullock headed back to the Western Conference this summer after signing for the Dallas Mavericks. Bullock has suited up for the Clippers, Suns and Lakers over his 9 year NBA career in the West.
Bullock joins the star-studded team led by Luka Doncic and first-year Head Coach, Jason Kidd. It took Reggie a couple of games to get going in the 2021/22 season, but in his third game against the Houston Rockets, Bullock showed signs of heating up that we saw last season. Bullock contributed with 16 points and 4 from behind the arc in their win against their state rivals.
At the end of October, Dallas Mavericks are 4th in the Western Conference with a record of 4-2, with Bullock averaging 20.5 MPG and 6.5 PPG.
highlighted most recent games:
116-106 (W) vs Houston Rockets
16 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist in 17 minutes
104-99 (W) vs San Antonio Spurs
7 points and 2 rebounds in 29 minutes
105-99 (WIN) vs Sacramento Kings
7 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 22 minutes
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG |
| NEW YORK KNICKS | 2019/20 | 23.6 | 8.1 | 2.3 | 1.4 |
| NEW YORK KNICKS | 2020/21 | 30.0 | 10.9 | 3.4 | 1.5 |
| DALLAS MAVERICKS | 2021/22 | 20.5 | 6.5 | 2.5 | 0.7 |
Tony Bradley – Chicago Bulls
Tony Bradley joined fellow Tar Heel, Coby White, in Chicago this summer. The new-look Bulls with the additions of DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball have been flying since Opening Day with a 5-1 record through October, sitting them 4th in the Eastern Conference.
Bradley has featured in three games this season with 7.3 MPG and 2.0 PPG.
highlighted most recent games:
103-104 (LOSS) vs New York Knicks
2 points and 3 rebounds in 6 minutes
107-99 (WIN) vs Utah Jazz
2 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks in 13 minutes
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | RPG | BPG |
| UTAH JAZZ | 2019/20 | 11.4 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 0.6 |
| PHILADELPHIA 76ERS | 2020/21 | 14.4 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 0.7 |
| OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER | 2020/21 | 18.0 | 8.7 | 6.1 | 0.8 |
| CHICAGO BULLS | 2021/22 | 7.3 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 1.0 |
Day’Ron Sharpe – Brooklyn Nets
Day’Ron Sharpe was the next on the list of Tar Heels to play in the NBA after being drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 29th pick of the NBA Draft 2021 and traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets were touted to be quite interested in Sharpe and they got their man this summer.
Sharpe has only featured in four games this season and has been averaging 3.4 MPG, but the 19-year-old is a prospect and the Nets are hoping to see him reach the potential they believe he can.
Sharpe scored his first points in the NBA in a win against the Washington Wizards and to no Tar Heel fans surprise, it was an under the basket power move that we saw so much of last season.
It is thought we could see Sharpe get some minutes for Brooklyn’s G-League Affiliate Team, the Long Island Nets, but currently, Sharpe is playing with some of the best players in the world as his teammates and looking to learn as much as possible.
HIGHLIGHTED MOST RECENT GAMES:
104-90 (WIN) vs Washington Wizards
2 points in 4 minutes
117-91 (WIN) vs Detroit Pistons
5 points and 2 rebounds in 6 minutes
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | RPG |
| BROOKLYN NETS | 2021/22 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 0.5 |
Ed Davis – Cleveland Cavaliers
Ed Davis is now on his eighth NBA team after signing for the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer. The NCAA 2009 Champion has been a solid role player since entering the NBA in 2010 and will be hoping to be an influential veteran on this relatively young Cavaliers team.
Davis has only played 3 minutes this season and we’ll see if he gets more playing time in the rotation of Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s system. The Cavaliers are currently 11th with a 3-4 record.
| TEAM | SEASON | MPG | PPG | RPG | BPG |
| UTAH JAZZ | 2019/20 | 10.8 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 0.3 |
| MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES | 2020/21 | 13.0 | 2.1 | 5.0 | 0.6 |
| CLEVELAND CAVALIERS | 2021/22 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
Tar Heels in the G-League
Theo Pinson was signed by the Boston Celtics this summer, then waived. He was then signed to their G-League Affiliate Team, the Maine Celtics.
Justin Jackson was signed by the Dallas Mavericks but was waived a day later. He then went on to sign for their G-League Affiliate Team, the Texas Legends.
Have you listened to the Ceiling is the Roof Podcast yet? It’s an interview-style podcast with former UNC basketball players as guests every episode. It launched in April and during Season One, the guests have included Joel Berry II, Kennedy Meeks, Marcus Ginyard, Jawad Williams, Deon Thompson, Bobby Frasor, Nate Britt, Justin Pierce, Leslie McDonald, Brandon Robinson, Baden Jaxen and Garrison Brooks.
The latest episode and finale of Season One of the Ceiling is the Roof Podcast is Tyler Hansbrough, as he talks about some funny stories of his time in Chapel Hill, playing overseas and his experiences in China, as well as his all-time UNC starting five, watch the episode here:
The Podcast is also available on many different platforms; YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Castbox and Anchor FM.
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