Tar Heels in pros: 2017 NCAA champs Bradley, Jackson, Pinson put up big numbers again in G League; Sharpe’s second straight double-double comes in first start

By R.L. Bynum

Three teammates on UNC’s 2017 national championship team continue to put up big numbers in the G League as Texas Legends teammates.

Tony Bradley scored 22 points in 22 minutes, Theo Pinson had 20 points and Justin Jackson pitched in 16, but the Legends lost 120–114 Wednesday night on the road against the Mexico City Capitanes.

Bradley, who got a late start to the season as he recovered from a leg injury, was 11 of 13 from the floor and added 10 rebounds, two assists and a block for his second consecutive double-double. He scored the first six points of the second half, was unstoppable inside and also made a few jumpers.

Pinson was 8 of 14 from the floor off the bench with seven rebounds, two assists and a steal. Jackson scored four 3-pointers and had seven assists, three rebounds and three steals.


Leaky Black missed his first game since the Hornets assigned him to the Greensboro Swarm, a 113–101 win over College Park, with an illness.


In the NBA, Day’Ron Sharpe continued his run of good games with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a 13.7 game score in Brooklyn’s 144–122 home loss to Milwaukee.

The Nets rested usual starting center Nic Claxton, so Sharpe got his first start of the season. Sharpe has scored double-figure points in four consecutive games after doing so only five times in his first 27 games.

Brooklyn also rested Cameron Johnson, who is dealing with a right knee strain, for “injury maintenance.”

In 18.6 minutes per game in the last five games, Sharpe is averaging 11.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 blocks and one steal while shooting 68% from the floor. Against the Bucks, he scored his first 3-pointer of the season.


Nassir Little had seven points and six rebounds in 16 minutes of Phoenix’s 129–113 victory at Houston. Reggie Bullock played seven scoreless minutes with one assist for the Rockets.


Cole Anthony contributed five points and six rebounds in Orlando’s 112–92 home loss to Philadelphia.

Cole Anthony, Milwaukee Bucks guard
Age 25 | 6–2, 185 | 6th season | $2.67 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

Roster situation — Backup point guard behind Kevin Porter
Season statistics 25 games, 6.9 points, 43.5 FG%, 27.5 3P%, 59.1 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Sunday: Nets 127, Bucks 82 Didn’t start; 20:11, 2 points, 0–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 4 fouls, -27
Next game 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Toronto


Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 33 | 6–7, 225 | 14th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

Roster situation Starting power forward ahead of Jeremy Sochan
Season statistics 24 games, 13.5 points, 48.9 FG%, 43.4 3P%, 88.6 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Saturday in NBA Cup West final: Spurs 111, Thunder 109 — Started; 27:03, 6 points, 2–10 FG, 0–8 3FG, 2–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +15
Next game 8:30 Tuesday vs. New York in NBA Cup championship game in Las Vegas, 8:30, Prime Video


Roster situation Third-string center behind Isaiah Jackson and Jay Huff
Season statistics 22 games, 4.8 points, 58.3 FG%, 0–1 3FG, 72.4 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Sunday: Wizards 108, Pacers 89 Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game 7 p.m. Thursday vs. New York


Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets forward
Age 29 | 6–8, 210 | 7th season | $22.54 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

Roster situation Starting small forward ahead of Bruce Brown
Season statistics 24 games, 11.4 points, 45.4 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 79.6 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Thursday: Nuggets 136, (at) Kings 105 Started; 32:34, 16 points, 6–13 FG, 1–5 3FG, 3–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +17
Next game 9:30 Monday vs. Houston, Peacock


Season statistics — 18 games, 8.1 points, 34.0 FG%, 26.3 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Sunday: Blazers 136, Warriors 131 Didn’t start; 12:00, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 2–2 3FG, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -9
Next game 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Sacramento


Season statistics 18 games, 6.3 points, 48.8 FG%, 37.8 3FG%, 95.2 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Sunday: Nets 127, Bucks 82 23:20, 13 points, 4–7 FG, 2–4 3FG, 3–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, team-high +31
Next game 7:30 Thursday vs. Miami


Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 24 | 6–9, 265 | 5th season | $6.25 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

Roster situation Backup center behind Nic Claxton
Season statistics 24 games, 7.1 points, 59.6 FG%, 27.8 3P%, 63.1 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Sunday: Nets 127, Bucks 82 16:52, 10 points, 4–6 FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 2 fouls, +14
Next game 7:30 Thursday vs. Miami


Coby White, Chicago Bulls forward
Age 25 | 6–4, 195 | 7th season | $12.88 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

Roster situation Starting shooting guard ahead of Ayo Dosunmu
Season statistics — 9 games, 21.7 points, 43.0 FG%, 26.9 3PFG, 80.9 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists
Sunday: Pelicans 114, Bulls 104 Started; 28:28, 20 points, 8–18 FG, 1–10 3FG, 3–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -10
Next game 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Cleveland


Out for season

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (torn labrum in left shoulder); season statistics: 5 games, 14.4 points, 70.3 FG%, 75.0 3P%, 70.0 FT%, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.8 blocks


Season statistics — 13 games, 10.7 points, 42.0 FG%, 20.4 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals
Sunday: Capital City 127, Delaware Blue Coats 107 Started; 27 minutes, 15 points, 7–11 FG, 1–3 3FG, 0–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 fouls, 1 steal, +4
Next game 2 p.m. Tuesday vs. Delaware Blue Coats


Season statistics — 11 games, 5.8 points, 47.3 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 50.0 FT%, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 of a block
Sunday: Rio Grande Valley Vipers 133, Birmingham 127 Didn’t start; 25 minutes, 8 points, 4–4 FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 fouls, 2 blocks, +12
Next game 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers, ESPN+


Season statistics — 12 games, 20.1 points, 43.9 FG%, 36.1 3P%, 88.6 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals
Saturday: Rip City Remix 122, South Bay 116 Inactive for game
Next game 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. San Diego Clippers, ESPN+


Season NBA statistics — 3 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +13
Season G League statistics — 8 games, 16.3 points, 51.1 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 58.8 FT%, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals
Saturday: (at) Texas Legends 126, Austin 122 Didn’t start; 35 minutes, 24 points, 10–13 FG, 3–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 fouls, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 blocks, +1
Next game 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Mexico City Capitanes


Season G League statistics — 6 games, 20.0 points, 60.8 FG%, 45.2 3P%, 75.0 FT%, 8.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 blocks
Season NBA statistics — 7 games, 37 minutes, 18 points, 7–14 FG, 4–9 3FG, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
Sunday in NBA: Nets 127, Bucks 82 9:24; 0–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, -13
Next game 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Iowa Wolves


Season statistics — 5 games, 16.4 points, 48.3 FG%, 34.5 3P%, 11–11 FT, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steal
Saturday: Grand Rapids Gold 107, Wisconsin 103 Didn’t play; 23 minutes, 16 points, 7–11 FG, 2–5 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 block, -5
Sunday: Wisconsin 107, Iowa Wolves 102 Didn’t start; 24 minutes, 13 points, 3–10 FG, 1–6 3FG, 5–5 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls, 3 turnovers, +11
Next game 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Iowa Wolves


Photo via video screenshot

Leave a Reply