By R.L. Bynum
After two seasons as a Chicago Bulls reserve and an up-and-down first four seasons, an improved Coby White appears ready for a resurgent season as their starting point guard. Day’Ron Sharpe showed that he’ll make an impact off the bench for the Brooklyn Nets and it appears possible that Tony Bradley, Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson will be G League teammates.
White, who only started twice last season, started all five preseason games, averaging 13.2 points and four assists while shooting 54.3% from the floor after shooting a career-high 44.3% last season. He averaged four assists and 2.6 turnovers.
“Obviously, it’s going to be growing pains. I’m not perfect,” White told The Athletic. “I haven’t played on the ball in three years. I’m not trying to make any excuses or anything like that. But I feel like the whole team and the coaching staff believe in me.”
Lonzo Ball likely would have been the Bulls’ starting point guard, but he’s recovering from March knee surgery, hasn’t played since January 2022 and is expected to miss the season.
“If I do end up being that starting point guard, I’m not going to take it for granted, like I always say,” said White, who is back with the big-hair look. “I’m going to try to take advantage of every opportunity I get.”
His perimeter shooting skills will mean some big scoring nights, such as Sunday’s 116–102 win at Denver when he scored 20 in 22 minutes. But the biggest difference in his game during the preseason was his ability to penetrate the lane and pass to open shooters while limiting turnovers.
The Athletic named White as the Bulls player most likely to have a breakout season.
His ball-handling has also improved, and he’s become more effective shooting off the dribble.
Sharpe isn’t going to take Nic Claxton’s spot as the Brooklyn Nets’ starting center, but he’s earned more minutes. His best performance came with nearly a point a minute in their preseason finale, a 107–104 win Wednesday at Miami.
In 21 minutes, Sharpe collected 19 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals and scored a 3-pointer. He has long struggled at the free-throw line (shooting 50.5% in his season at UNC and 63.6% last season) but made all six attempts in that game and shot 78.6% during the preseason.
“He had a really good offseason, really good. And he’s had a really good preseason,” Claxton told the New York Post. “He’s using his physicality without fouling. He’s a lot more comfortable out there. I think he’s just in a better headspace mentally with the group that we have now, and I expect him to make some big strides for us.”
Sharpe, who missed one preseason game with an ankle injury, will be more valuable on the defensive end this season with the Nets going to more drop coverage.
“Personally, I just feel like last year I did the same thing during preseason,” Sharpe told the New York Post. “I don’t know about training camp, but in preseason I did the same thing. So I’m glad I played good, but at the end of the day, I’ve got to do that during the season. So right now, I’m ready for the season to start, so I can show people I can do it during the season, too. Preseason really doesn’t matter.”
His teammate Cameron Johnson, entering his first full season with the Nets, missed the entire preseason dealing with a hamstring injury he suffered during a workout before training camp. The Nets hope he can return to practice Saturday, but he’ll need a few practices before being cleared to play.
Tony Bradley has been looking for a team since Chicago waived him on Feb. 21 after he only played sparingly for the Bulls. He drew interest from Golden State but signed an Exhibit 10 contract Thursday with the Dallas Mavericks after playing only 12 games and 33 minutes with Chicago last season.
Dallas waived Bradley on Friday, meaning he’ll likely play for the Mavs’ G League team, the Texas Legends, but nothing has been announced, and the season doesn’t start until Nov. 10. He would play there with Theo Pinson.
On Tuesday, the Legends acquired the G League rights to Pinson from the Maine Celtics in exchange for the rights to James Banks III and Grant Riller.
Dallas didn’t re-sign Pinson to an NBA contract after he played 40 games, mostly as a reserve, but produced a triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in the Mavericks’ final regular-season game, a 138–117 loss to San Antonio.
In the last two seasons, Justin Jackson has played 42 games for the Texas Legends and signed with the team on Friday. That likely gives the Legends three UNC 2017 national championship team players.
Harrison Barnes is locked in as a Sacramento starter but had a lackluster preseason. He started all five games for Sacramento, averaging 8.4 points, shooting 44.1% from the floor and 27.8% from 3-point range. His best game was a 15-point, three-3-pointer performance in 21 minutes of the Kings’ 109–101 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 11.
Barnes signed a three-year, $54-million contract extension in June.
After starting 40 games last season, mostly in the second half of the season, Walker Kessler will start for the Utah Jazz at center after some impressive preseason outings.
Kessler collected 14 points, 15 rebounds and three assists in the final exhibition game, a 116–113 loss to Sacramento. He averaged eight points, 6.4 rebounds and two blocks in five preseason games.
Cole Anthony is again Orlando’s backup point guard behind Markelle Fultz, but didn’t put up big numbers during the preseason. Anthony, who sat out the Magic’s final exhibition game, shot 55.6% from the floor and averaged 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and four assists in three games.
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley praised the improvements in Anthony’s game in the offseason.
“I think Cole has done a great job,” Mosley told The Magic Insider. “His decision-making, his playmaking, and we don’t even talk about how he’s done a great job of defending the ball. He’s one of the guys picking up full court, changing the defense starting it out full court to make sure that they know he has a presence with our defense.”
Nassir Little got off to a slow start in the preseason as he adjusted to playing with the Phoenix Suns after Portland dealt him there in September, although he shot 46.2% from the floor. His best game was the preseason finale, when he scored 11 points and pulled down four rebounds in Phoenix’s 123–100 Thursday win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Palm Desert, Calif.
He’ll have to fight for playing time at small forward behind Josh Okogie and at power forward behind Kevin Durant. Among the players vying for playing time at those positions are Keita Bates-Diop, former Duke star Grayson Allen and Yuta Watanabe.
Also with a new team is Reggie Bullock, who will play his 11th NBA season with the Houston Rockets. He’ll enter the season as the backup at small forward to Dillon Brooks. He played only three exhibition games, scoring three points and going 1 of 8 from the floor with five rebounds in 42 minutes.
Danny Green is back with the Philadelphia 76ers and isn’t expected to be a starter. He’ll battle starter Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr. for playing time at small forward. In four exhibition games, he played 65 minutes, scored 20 points but shot well: 7 of 23 (41.2%) from the floor and 6 of 17 from 3-point range (46.2%).
Hampered by an ankle injury early in training camp, Leaky Black didn’t play for the Charlotte Hornets during the preseason. He’ll likely play many games for the G League’s Greensboro Swarm this season.
Pete Nance only played 17 minutes over two preseason games for the Cleveland Cavaliers with two points and two rebounds, and will likely play most of his season with the G League’s Cleveland Charge.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 23 | 6–3, 185 | fourth NBA season | $5,539,771 salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup point guard behind Markelle Fultz
2022–23 statistics — 60 games, 13.0 points, 45.4 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 89.4 FT%, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists
108–105 Thursday win at Cleveland — Didn’t start; 17 minutes, 9 points, 3–6 FG, 0–2 3FG, 3–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, -4
104–92 Tuesday loss vs. New Orleans — Didn’t start; 16 minutes, 6 points, 2–2 FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, +4
109–76 Friday win vs. Flamengo Flamengo — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Final preseason statistics — 3 games, 0 starts, 9.3 points, 55.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 75.7 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 turnovers
Regular-season opener — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Houston
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 31 | 6–8, 225 | 12th NBA season | $17,000,000 salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Chris Duarte
Regular-season 2022–23 statistics — 82 games, 13.0 points, 41.7 FG%, 14.3 3FG%, 71.4 FT%, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists
2023 playoffs statistics — 7 games, 10.7 points, 41.7 FG%, 24.0 3P%, 3.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 1.1 steals
109–101 Oct. 11 loss in Anaheim, Calif., to L.A. Lakers — Started; 21 minutes, 15 points, 5–11 FG, 3–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -5
121–115 Sunday loss vs. Golden State — Started; 21 minutes, 6 points, 2–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–3 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, +1
116–115 Wednesday loss at Golden State — Started; 33 minutes, 4 points, 1–6 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 foul, -4
116–113 Thursday win vs. Utah — Started; 21 minutes, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, -11
Final preseason statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 8.4 points, 44.1 FG%, 27.8 3P%, 77.8 FT%, 2.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1 steal, 0.2 of a block
Regular-season opener — 9 p.m. Wednesday at Utah
Leaky Black, Charlotte Hornets guard
Age 24 | 6–9, 209 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Roster situation — Reserve role; likely to play many games for G League’s Greensboro Swarm
2022–23 statistics (UNC) — 33 games, 7.3 points, 41.1 FG%, 32.6 3P%, 70.2 FT%, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists
98–92 Oct. 12 loss at Washington — Didn’t play (ankle injury)
117–115 Sunday win vs. Oklahoma City and 127–99 Thursday loss vs. Boston — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Final preseason statistics — Didn’t play
Regular-season opener — Hornets: Wednesday vs. Atlanta, Bally Sports SE; Swarm: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at Long Island
Reggie Bullock, Houston Rockets guard
Age 32 | 6–6, 205 | 11th NBA season | $10,489,600 salary | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup at small forward behind Dillon Brooks
2022–23 statistics (Dallas) — 78 games, 7.2 points, 40.9 FG%, 38.0 3P%, 70.3 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists
120–87 Oct. 12 win at New Orleans — Didn’t start: 11 minutes, 8 points, 1–4 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +8
99–89 Monday win at San Antonio — Started: 14 minutes, 0 points, 0–2 FG, 0–2 3FG, -17
117–103 Wednesday win at San Antonio — Didn’t start: 9 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1 rebound, +10
110–104 Friday win vs. Miami — Didn’t start: 8 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, +6
Final preseason statistics — 3 games, 1 start, 42 minutes, 3 points, 1–8 FG, 1–8 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover
Regular-season opener — Wednesday at Orlando
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers guard
Age 36 | 6–6, 215 | 15th NBA season | UNC 2005–09 (4 seasons)
Roster situation — Third-string small forward behind Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr.
2022–23 regular-season statistics (Cleveland and Memphis) — 11 games, 5.5 points, 44.9 FG%, 42.2 3FG%, 1–1 FT, 1.3 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
2023 playoffs statistics (Cleveland) — 4 games, 3 points, 1–5 FG, 1–4 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 1 block, 5 fouls
112–101 Oct. 11 loss vs. Boston — Didn’t start; 12 minutes, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 2–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 foul, +6
127–119 Monday win at Brooklyn — Didn’t start; 22 minutes, 6 points, 2–4 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2 steals, 1 block, plus/minus of 0
120–106 Friday win vs. Atlanta — Didn’t start; 6 minutes, 3 points, 1–1 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1 turnovers, 2 fouls, -10
Final preseason statistics — 4 games, 65 minutes, 20 points, 7–23 FG, 6–17 3FG, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers
Regular-season opener — 7:30 Thursday at Milwaukee, TNT
Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210 | fifth NBA season | $25,679,348 salary UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Royce O’Neale
2022–23 regular-season statistics — 42 games, 15.5 points, 47.0 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 84.3 FT%, 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists
2023 playoffs statistics — 4 games, 18.5 points, 50.9 FG%, 42.9 3P%, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 of a steal
135–103 Oct. 12 win over Ra’anana Maccabi Ra’anana, 127–119 Monday loss vs. Philadelphia and 107–104 Wednesday win at Miami — Didn’t play (hamstring)
Final preseason statistics — Didn’t play
Regular-season opener — 7:30 Wednesday vs. Cleveland
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 22 | 7–0, 245 | second NBA season | $2,831,160 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center ahead of Kelly Olynyk
2022–23 statistics — 74 games, 9.2 points, 72.0 FG%, 1–4 3FG, 51.6 FT%, 8.4 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 2.2 blocks
138–133 Oct. 14 win vs. Portland — Started; 21 minutes, 8 points, 4–9 FG, 0–2 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 foul, +10
114–94 Monday win vs. New Zealand Breakers — Started; 21 minutes, 8 points, 3–5 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, +9
116–113 Thursday loss at Sacramento — Started; 33 minutes, 14 points, 7–12 FG, 0–2 FT, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, +22
Final preseason statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 8.0 points, 54.5 FG%, 1–4 3FG, 33.3 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.4 of a steal, 2 blocks
Regular-season opener — 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. Sacramento
Nassir Little, Phoenix Sun wing
Age 23 | 6–4, 220 | fifth NBA season | $6,250,060 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Will compete for time off the bench behind Josh Okogie at small forward (with Keita Bates-Diop, Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon) and behind Kevin Durant at power forward (with Yuta Watanabe and Baits-Diop).
2022–23 statistics (Portland) — 54 games, 6.6 points, 44.2 FG%, 36.7 3P%, 71.7 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
122–111 Oct. 12 win at Portland — Started; 30 minutes, 5 points, 2–5 FG, 1–4 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 fouls, +25
117–106 Monday win vs. Portland — Didn’t start; 15 minutes, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -5
123–100 Thursday win vs. Los Angeles Lakers in Palm Desert, Calif. — Didn’t start; 21 minutes, 11 points, 5–7 FG, 1–2 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, +17
Final preseason statistics — 5 games, 1 start, 6.0 points, 46.2 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 2–4 FT, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 of a steal
Regular-season opener — 10 p.m. Tuesday at Golden State, TNT
Pete Nance, Cleveland Cavaliers forward
Age 23 | 6–10, 225 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve role; likely to play many games for the G League’s Cleveland Charge
2022–23 statistics (UNC) — 30 games, 10.0 points, 42.2 FG%, 32.0 3P%, 81.6 FT%, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists
108–105 Oct. 12 loss vs. Orlando — Didn’t start; 8 minutes, 0 points, 1 turnover, 1 foul
120–89 Monday win vs. Ra’anana Maccabi Ra’anana — Didn’t start; 9 minutes, 2 points 0–1 FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, +2
109–104 Friday loss at Indiana — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Final preseason statistics — 2 games, 0 starts, 17 minutes, 2 points, 0–1 FT, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul
Regular-season opener — 7:30 Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Brooklyn
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | third NBA season | $2,210,040 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup center behind Nic Claxton
2022–23 regular-season statistics — 48 games, 4.7 points, 54.4 FG%, 6–11 3FG, 63.6 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 0.7 of a block
2023 playoffs statistics — 2 games, 20 minutes, 6 points, 3–3 FG, 2–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
135–103 Oct. 12 win over Ra’anana Maccabi Ra’anana — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
127–119 Monday loss vs. Philadelphia — 18 minutes, 9 points, 2–6 FG, 5–8 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, +4
107–104 Wednesday win at Miami — Didn’t start: 21 minutes, 19 points, 6–7 FG, 1–2 3FG, 6–6 FT, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 3 fouls, +1
Final preseason statistics — 3 games, 0 starts, 9.3 points, 61.5 FG%, 1–2 3FG, 78.6 FT%, 7.0 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist, 0.7 of a block
Regular-season opener — 7:30 Wednesday vs. Cleveland
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 23 | 6–5, 195 | fifth NBA season | $11,111,111 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter ahead of Jevon Carter
2022–23 statistics — 74 games, 9.7 points, 44.3 FG%, 37.2 3P%, 87.1 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Statistics in 2023 play-in games — 2 games, 11.5 points, 64.3 FG%, 71.4 3P%, 0 FTAs, 2.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steal
133–124 Oct. 12 win vs. Denver — Started; 22 minutes, 8 points, 4–7 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, +3
116–102 Sunday loss at Denver — Started; 22 minutes, 20 points, 6–11 FG, 3–7 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 4 fouls, -5
106–102 Tuesday loss vs. Toronto — Started; 25 minutes, 11 points, 5–8 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 turnovers, 4 fouls, +3
114–105 Thursday loss vs. Minnesota — Started; 30 minutes, 13 points, 4–10 FG, 1–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, -4
Final preseason statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 13.2 points, 54.3 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.6 turnovers, 0.8 of a steal
Regular-season opener — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Oklahoma City
In the G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends guard
Age 28 | 6–8, 220 | seventh pro season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
2022–23 season NBA statistics (Celtics) — 23 games, 107 minutes, 20 points, 7–27 FG, 5–20 3FG, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
2022–23 season G League statistics (Legends) — 14 games, 21.1 points, 44.2 FG%, 42.2 3FG%, 62.1 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Season opener — 8:30 Friday, Nov. 10 vs. Oklahoma City
Theo Pinson, Texas Legends guard
Age 27 | 6–7, 212 | sixth pro season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
2022–23 season statistics (Mavericks) — 40 games, 2.4 points, 35.6 FG%, 35.5 3P%, 84.6 FT, 1.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Season opener — 8:30 Friday, Nov. 10 vs. Oklahoma City
Photo @chicagobulls
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