By R.L. Bynum
Coby White, one of the four former Tar Heels who will play in the NBA postseason, concluded his best pro season with 26 points on Sunday. Rookie Leaky Black tied his season-high of 11 points in the Charlotte Hornets season-ending win.
White’s Bulls and Harrison Barnes’ Sacramento Kings play home elimination games this week in the play-in tournament.
Chicago is the Eastern Conference’s No. 9 seed and meets the Atlanta Hawks in a play-in tournament game at 9:30 Wednesday (ESPN). Chicago’s season is over with a loss. With a win, the Bulls would meet the loser of the 7 p.m. Wednesday play-in game between No. 7 seed Philadelphia and No. 8 seed Miami (ESPN).
White made 12 of 18 shots in Sunday’s 120–119 overtime loss at New York, his 14th game this season with more than 25 points. He averaged 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists, all career highs.
Sacramento is the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference and takes on No. 10 Golden State at 10 p.m. Tuesday (TNT). The Kings are eliminated with a loss. With a win, they would play the loser of a 7:30 Tuesday play-in game between No. 7 New Orleans and No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers (TNT).
In the Kings’ regular-season finale, Barnes scored 17 points in their 121–82 home win over Portland. His average of 12.2 points was his lowest total since averaging 11.7 in the 2015–16 season.
Cole Anthony’s Orlando Magic is the No. 5 seed in the East, and will meet the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in a first-round series.
Anthony collected 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in Orlando’s 113–88 Sunday victory over Milwaukee. He averaged 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists while playing 22.4 minutes per game, all career-lows.
Nassir Little’s Phoenix Suns are the No. 6 seed in the West and face No. 3 Minnesota in a first-round series. He had four points in five minutes of the Suns’ 125–106 Sunday win against the Timberwolves. Little only averaged 10.2 minutes and 3.4 points per game, both career-lows.
Black’s Hornets finished 21–61, but he scored 11 points in Charlotte’s 120–110 Sunday win at Cleveland. That matched the 11 points he scored on Feb. 2 at Oklahoma City.
Black averaged 2.7 points in 26 NBA games while averaging 7.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26 games for the G League’s Greensboro Swarm.
Reggie Bullock finished a frustrating season for the 41–41 Houston Rockets, going scoreless in six minutes in their 116–106 season-ending road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. It was the 21st scoreless game this season for Bullock, who averaged 9.5 minutes and 2.2 points per game, his lowest since the 2014–15 season with Phoenix and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Brooklyn finished its season 32–50 after falling at Philadelphia on Sunday 107–58. Neither Cameron Johnson nor Day’Ron Sharpe played. Johnson missed the last two games with a left big toe sprain and Sharpe missed three of the last six games with a wrist injury.
Johnson averaged 13.4 points, his lowest since averaging 12.5 in the 2021–22 season for Phoenix. His 39.1% shooting from 3-point range was his lowest since shooting 34.9 in that same season.
Sharpe averaged 6.8 points and 6.4 rebounds, both career-highs.
Walker Kessler missed the last six Utah Jazz games with a nasal fracture. The Jazz finished 12th in the Western Conference with a 31–51 record. Kessler averaged 8.1 points and 7.5 rebounds, both down from his rookie season, and 2.4 blocks.
None of the four former Tar Heels in the G League made the playoffs.
Pete Nance’s Cleveland Charge finished 11th in the Eastern Conference, and he averaged 13.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He played in eight games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, with three points and three rebounds in 27 minutes.
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
The Texas Legends, with Justin Jackson, Theo Pinson and Tony Bradley, finished ninth in the Western Conference.
Jackson, who played one minute over two games for the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 44 G League games.
Pinson averaged 14.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 46 games, while Bradley averaged 14.1 points and 9.4 rebounds in 17 games.
Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 34 | 6–7, 225 | 15th season | $8 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup small forward
Final statistics last season — 77 games, 9.9 points, 45.6 FG%, 38.8 3P%, 82.9 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Team record last season: 62–20, 2nd in Western Conference
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 19.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 34.8 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 88.9 FT%, 1.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 steal
Monday — Jazz 119, Spurs 109 (road) | started: 23:18, 19 points, 3–8 FG, 3–7 3FG, 10–12 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, -13
Wednesday — Spurs 123, Suns 103 (home) | didn’t start; 20:21, 7 points, 1–5 FG, 1–4 3FG, 4–4 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, +4
Final exhibition — 8 p.m. Friday vs. Sacramento
Season opener — 9:30 Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City, NBC/Peacock
Leaky Black, Sacramento Kings guard
Age 27 | 6–6, 209 | 4th season | $2.45 million salary | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot, to earn Kings’ final two-way contract
Final G League statistics last season (Capital City) — 38 games, 10.3 points, 45.6 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals
Final NBA statistics last season (Wizards) — 15 games, 7.1 points, 38.8 FG%, 34.5 3FG%, 87.5 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals
Preseason statistics — 3 games, 19.9 minutes, 7.7 points, 53.8 FG%, 62.5 3P%, 4–4 FT, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 1.3 steals
Tuesday — Trail Blazers 110, Kings 98 (home) | started: game-high 31:35, 10 points, 2–6 FG, 2–5 3FG, 4–4 FT, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -16
Final exhibition — 8 p.m. Friday at San Antonio
Season opener — 10:30 Wednesday at Los Angeles Clippers
Harrison Ingram, Utah Jazz forward
Age 23 (turns 24 Oct. 21) | 6–6, 230 | second season | $2.45 million salary | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot; likely to play in G League
G League statistics last season (Austin) — 40 games, 16.6 points, 49.2 FG%, 34.0 3P%, 62.6 FT%, 12.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists
NBA statistics last season (Spurs) — 7 games, 1.6 points, 83.3 FG%, 1-1 3P
Preseason statistics — 3 games, 8.9 minutes, 17 points, 50 FG%, 1–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
Monday — Jazz 119, Spurs 109 (home) | didn’t start: 7:02, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -13
Final exhibition — 10 p.m. Friday at Phoenix
Season opener — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Memphis
Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 210 | 8th season | $22.5 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of DeMar DeRozan
Final statistics last season — 54 games, 12.2 points, 48.0 FG%, 43.0 3P%, 83.9 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record last season: 54–28, 3rd in Western Conference
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 17.1 minutes, 9.5 points, 44.6 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 50.0 FT%, 2.0 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Sunday — Nuggets 133, Bulls 128 (home) | started: 24:52, 15 points, 5–7 FG, 4–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +8
Wednesday — Clippers 122, Nuggets 110 (road) | started: 12:58, 5 points, 2–5 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +3
Final exhibition — 10:30 Friday at Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN
Season opener — 9:30 Thursday at Oklahoma City, ESPN
Walker Kessler, Los Angeles Lakers center
Age 25 | 7–2, 245 | 5th season | $30.11 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center ahead of Kevon Looney
Final statistics last season (Utah) — 5 games, 14.4 points, 70.3 FG%, 75.0 3P%, 70.0 FT%, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 blocks
Tuesday (Kessler’s preseason debut) — Warriors 101, Lakers 89 (Las Vegas) | started: 15:55, 11 points, 4–6 FG, 3–4 FT, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, team-high +15
Final exhibition — 10:30 Friday vs. Denver, ESPN
Season opener — 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Golden State, ESPN
Caleb Love, Philadelphia 76ers guard
Age 25 | 6–3, 212 | 2nd season | $678,882 salary | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot; likely to play in G League
NBA season statistics last season — 49 games (limited to 50 under his two-way contract), 10.4 points, 38.8 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 73.5 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists
G League statistics last season — 10 games, 24.7 points, 43.3 FG%, 23.5 3P%, 75.8 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.6 turnovers
Preseason statistics — 3 games, 17.1 minutes, 7.3 points, 31.8FG%, 23.1 3P%, 55.6 FT%, 1.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.7 of a block
Saturday — Celtics 144, 76ers 106 (road) | didn’t start: 14:15, 3 points, 1–7 FG, 0–4 3FG, 1–3 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, -15
Final exhibition — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Boston, NBATV
Season opener — 7 p.m. Tuesday at New York, NBC
Pete Nance, Milwaukee Bucks center
Age 25 | 6–9, 225 | 3rd season | $2.76 million salary | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot; likely to play in G League
G League statistics last season— 12 games, 19.0 points, 53.7 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 8.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks
NBA statistics last season — 47 games, 5.4 points, 51.5 FG%, 42.0 3P%, 36.4 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 13.0 minutes, 4.0 points, 35.7 FG%, 30 3P%, 75.0 FT%, 3.2 rebounds
Team record last season: 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference
Sunday — Hornets 105, Bucks 90 (road) | didn’t start: 6:47, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 foul, +3
Wednesday — Bulls 126, Bucks 104 (home) | started: 25:50, 4 points, 1–6 FG, 0–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -17
Final exhibition — 7 p.m. Friday at Indiana
Season opener — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Washington
Tyler Nickel, New York Knicks forward
Age 23 | 6–7, 220 | rookie season | $678,882 salary | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot
Statistics last season (Vanderbilt) — 36 games, 36 starts, 13.5 points, 44.5 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 84.7 FG%, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 38.8 minutes, 16 points, 4–18 FG, 2–14 3FG, 6–7 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Monday — 76ers 120, Knicks 97 (road) | didn’t start: 8:17, 0 points, 0–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, -5
Tuesday — Raptors 148, Knicks 98 (road) | didn’t start: 20:37, 11 points, 3–11 FG, 1–9 3FG, 4–5 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 foul, -21
Thursday — Knicks 119, Raptors 117 | didn’t start: 4:07, 2 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 foul, -1
Season opener — 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Philadelphia, NBC
Drake Powell, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 21 | 6–5, 195 | 2nd season | $3.54 million salary | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup 2 guard behind Egor Demin
Final regular-season NBA statistics — 63 games, 6.5 points, 40.2 FG%, 28.0 3FG%, 89.6 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Final regular-season G League statistics — 5 games, 11.8 points, 44.2 FG%, 36.4 3FG%, 72.7 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 10.8 minutes, 4.0 points, 43.5 FG%, 45.5 3P%, 2–2 FT, 1.1 rebounds
Team record last season: 20–62, 13th in Eastern Conference
Monday — Nets 131, Wizards 122 (road) | didn’t start: 10:22, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1 rebounds, 3 fouls, +6
Wednesday — Heat 144, Nets 128 (road) | didn’t start; 5:41, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 foul, +/- of 0
Season opener — 7:30 Wednesday vs. Charlotte
Cormac Ryan, Milwaukee Bucks guard
Age 26 | 6–5, 195 | 2nd season | $680,985 salary | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot; likely to play in G League
G League statistics last season — 31 games, 20.9 points, 48.8 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 89.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals
NBA statistics last season — 11 games, 14.3 points, 52.0 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 92.3 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steal
Team record last season: 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference
Preseason statistics — 2 games, 18.7 minutes, 8.0 points, 41.7 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 60.0 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal
Sunday — Hornets 105, Bucks 90 (road) | didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Wednesday — Bulls 126, Bucks 104 (home) | didn’t start: 26:07, 14 points, 4–9 FG, 3–7 3FG, 3–5 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, -20
Final exhibition — 7 p.m. Friday at Indiana
Season opener — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Washington
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 25 | 6–10, 265 | 6th season | $10 million salary | UNC 2020–22 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center ahead of Moritz Wagner
Final statistics last season — 62 games, 8.7 points, 60.1 FG%, 23.1 3FG%, 67.8 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals
Team record last season: 20–62, 13th in Eastern Conference
Preseason statistics — 3 games, 18.8 minutes, 7.7 points, 55.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 25.0 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks
Monday — Nets 131, Wizards 122 (road) | started: 21:07, 4 points, 1–1 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, +4
Wednesday — Heat 144, Nets 128 (road) | started: 17:26, 11 points, 5–8 FG, 1–3 3FG, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, -4
Season opener — 7:30 Wednesday vs. Charlotte
Coby White, Charlotte Hornets guard
Age 26 | 6–4, 210 | 8th season | $26.81 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting point guard ahead of Dennis Schroder
Statistics last season (Bulls, Hornets) — 50 games, 17.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 36.2 3PFG, 81.7 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Team record: 44–38, 9th in Eastern Conference
Will miss preseason after suffering a left calf strain during training camp
Season opener — 7:30 Wednesday at Brooklyn
Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls forward
Age 20 | 6–10, 215 | Rookie season | $10.28 million salary | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting power forward ahead of Patrick Williams
Statistics last season (UNC) — 24 games, 19.8 points, 57.8 FG%, 25.9 3P%, 71.3 FT%, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 27.5 minutes, 15.8 points, 43.4 FG%, 29.2 3P%, 55.6 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Friday — Grizzlies 104, Bulls 100 (home) | started: 31:37, 21 points, 7–17 FG, 5–11 3FG, 2–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 3 fouls, -18
Sunday — Nuggets 133, Bulls 128 (road) | started: 25:20, 17 points, 6–10 FG, 1–4 3FG, 4–7 FT, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 5 turnovers, 3 fouls, +/- of 0
Wednesday — Bulls 125, Bucks 104 (road) | started: 24:04, 10 points, 4–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 4 fouls, +14
Final exhibition — 8 p.m. Friday vs. Minnesota
Season opener — 7:30 Wednesday at Toronto
Likely out for season
Atlanta Hawks center Henri Veesaar (tore right ACL on Sept.15)
Waived in training camp
Center Tony Bradley by New York (preseason statistics: 3 games, 7.5 minutes, 5.3 points, 80.0 FG%, 0–1 FT, 1.7 rebounds)
Guard RJ Davis by San Antonio (preseason statistics: 3 games, 8.8 minutes, 7 points, 27.3 FG%, 1–4 3FG, 0–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block)
Photo via @chicagobulls
