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, Orlando Magic guard
Age 23 | 6–3, 185 | fourth NBA season | $5,539,771 salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

113–88 Sunday win vs. Milwaukee 17 minutes, 13 points, 5–9 FG, 1–3 3PFG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover 3 fouls, +13
Season statistics — 81 games, 11.6 points, 43.5 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Record Finished 47–35, 5th in Eastern Conference; Next game Saturday, Game 1 of the first-round series as No. 5 East seed at No. 4 Cleveland


Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 31 | 6–8, 225 | 12th NBA season | $17,000,000 salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

121–82 Sunday win vs. Portland Started; 31 minutes, 17 points, 5–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 5–7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnovers, 1 foul, +37
Season statistics — 82 games, 12.2 points, 47.4 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Record Finished 46–36, tied for 9th in Western Conference; Next game 10 p.m. Tuesday as No. 9 seed in play-in tournament vs. No. 10 Golden State, TNT (loser eliminated)


Leaky Black, Charlotte Hornets guard
Age 24 | 6–9, 209 | rookie NBA season | Two-way contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)

120–110 Sunday win at Cleveland 32 minutes, 11 points, 4–4 FG, 2–2 3FG, 1–1 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 fouls, +22
NBA season statistics — 26 games, 2.7 points, 48.1 FG%, 45.0 3FG%, 66.7 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
G League season statistics — 25 games, 7.1 points, 43.7 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 61.9 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 of a block
Record Finished 21–61, 13th in Eastern Conference;


Reggie Bullock, Houston Rockets guard
Age 32 | 6–6, 205 | 11th NBA season | $10,489,600 salary | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)

116–106 Sunday loss at Los Angeles Clippers 6 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 turnovers, 1 foul, -1
Season statistics — 44 games, 2.2 points, 41.5 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 1–1 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
Record Finished 41–41, 11th in Western Conference


Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210 | fifth NBA season | $25,679,348 salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

107–86 Sunday loss at Philadelphia Didn’t play (left big toe sprain); missed last two games
Season statistics — 58 games, 13.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Record Finished 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference


Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 22 | 7–0, 245 | second NBA season | $2,831,160 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

123–116 Sunday loss at Golden State Didn’t play (nasal fracture); missed last six games
Season statistics — 64 games, 8.1 points, 65.5 FG%, 21.1 3P%, 60.2 FT%, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 2.4 blocks
Record Finished 31–51, 12th in Western Conference


Nassir Little, Phoenix Sun wing
Age 23 | 6–4, 220 | fifth NBA season | $6,250,060 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

125–106 Sunday win at Minnesota  5 minutes, 4 points, 2–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, -5
Season statistics 45 games, 3.4 points, 46.0 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Record Finished 49–33, 6th in Western Conference; Next game Saturday, Game 1 of the first-round series as No. 6 seed at No. 3 Minnesota


Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | third NBA season | $2,210,040 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

107–86 Sunday loss at Philadelphia Didn’t play (wrist injury); missed three of last six games
Season statistics — 61 games, 6.8 points, 57.1 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 51.0 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Record Finished 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference


Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 23 | 6–5, 195 | fifth NBA season | $11,111,111 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

120–119 Sunday overtime loss at New York Started; 43 minutes, 26 points, 12–18 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +1
Season statistics — 79 games, 19.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 83.8 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists
Record Finished 39–43, 9th in Eastern Conference; Next game 9:30 Wednesday as No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 Atlanta in play-in tournament, ESPN (loser eliminated)


In G League

Season statistics — 17 games, 14.1 points, 67.1 FG%, 71.9 FT%, 9.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 block
Record Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup


Season G League statistics — 44 games, 19.9 points, 46.4 FG%, 40.5 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.7 of a steal, 0.5 of a block
Season NBA statistics (with Minnesota) — 2 games, 1 minute, 0 points
Record Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup


Pete Nance, Cleveland Charge
Age 23 | 6–10, 225 | rookie pro season | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)

G League season statistics — 42 games; 13.2 points, 46.8 FG%, 35.8 3FG%, 74.5 FT%, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 of a steal, 1.5 blocks
Season NBA season statistics (with Cleveland) — 8 games, 27 minutes, 3 points, 1–6 FG, 1–1 3FG, 0–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 2 fouls
Record Finished 15–7, 11th in Eastern Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup


Season statistics — 46 games, 14.8 points, 42.6 FG%, 38.2 3P%, 82.2 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 of a block
Record Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup


Photo via video screenshot

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