By R.L. Bynum
After four former Tar Heels got mixed results during preliminary Summer League games in either San Francisco or Salt Lake City, they’ll head to Las Vegas beginning Thursday, along with seven others UNC alums, for the main part of the NBA Summer League.
There were decent nights from the Memphis Grizzlies’ Armando Bacot and the San Antonio Spurs’ Harrison Ingram and some nice moments from the Los Angeles Lakers’ RJ Davis. But none put up huge numbers in limited playing time, and Kerwin Walton didn’t play in any of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s three games in Salt Lake City.
In addition to those four, others playing only in Las Vegas will be Leaky Black (Washington Wizards); Garrison Brooks and Dawson Garcia (Detroit Pistons); Caleb Love and Justin McKoy (Portland Trail Blazers); and Pete Nance and Cormac Ryan (Milwaukee Bucks).
Rookie Drake Powell was expected to play for the Brooklyn Nets, but will sit out the Summer League as a precautionary measure because of left knee tendinopathy. He signed a multi-year contract with the Nets on Tuesday.
With large rosters and games with unfamiliar teammates, it can be difficult for players to find their rhythm and get much playing time.
Davis didn’t start any of the three games in San Francisco at the California Classic for the Lakers, who have a 16-player roster. Davis averaged 12.9 minutes, 3.7 points, 2.7 assists while shooting 31.3% from the floor and 12.5% from 3-point range. He dished out a team-high-tying four assists in Sunday’s 103–83 victory over the Miami Heat.
Davis’ 8 p.m. Thursday debut in Las Vegas (ESPN) against the Dallas Mavericks will be highly anticipated because it will be the Summer League debut of former Duke star and top draft pick Cooper Flagg. The average ticket price for the game is $297, with courtside seats going for as much as $3,000.
The Grizzlies’ Summer League roster, which briefly listed Cole Anthony, includes 19 players, which probably was a factor in Bacot not playing in Memphis’ third game at the Salt Lake City Classic.
Bacot, who averaged 15.7 minutes, 7.2 points and 5.0 rebounds playing last summer for the Utah Jazz, averaged 16.6 minutes, 7.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in two games in Salt Lake City. His best game was in the Grizzlies’ opener, a 92–80 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, when he collected nine points and five rebounds in nearly 16½ minutes.
Bacot played 50 G League games last season for the Memphis Hustle, averaging 16.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Ingram started all three games in San Francisco for the Spurs, averaging 16.3 minutes, 4.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.3 steals. Ingram, who averaged 27.8 minutes, 10.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in seven Summer League games in 2024, had his best game in Sunday’s 90–88 win over the Golden State Warriors when he had eight points, six rebounds and two steals in nearly 14½ minutes.
Playing for the Austin Spurs, Ingram averaged 12.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals last season in 48 G League games.
This will be the third consecutive Summer League for Black, who played the previous two years for the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 19.7 minutes, 3.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and nearly a steal in 11 games. Black played 44 G League games last season for Washington’s affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, averaging 7.9 points and 4.8 rebounds.
See below for a complete rundown of former Tar Heels in Las Vegas, including their game schedules and viewing information.
Summer League Tar Heels
Memphis Grizzlies schedule (Armando Bacot)
Games in Salt Lake City
July 5: Grizzlies 92, Thunder 80
– Bacot: started; 16:25, 9 points, 2–2 FG, 5–6 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnovers, 2 fouls, -2
July 7: Jazz 112, Grizzlies 111
– Bacot: started; 16:45, 6 points, 3–5 FG, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 block, 1 turnovers, 6 fouls, -4
Tuesday, July 8: Sixers 91, Grizzlies 90
– Bacot: Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Games in Las Vegas
Friday, July 11: Celtics 92, Grizzlies 78
– Bacot: started; 22:47, 14 points, 7–13 FG, 0–4 3FG, team-high 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 7 fouls, -1
Saturday, July 12: Saturday, July 12: Grizzlies 96, Trail Blazers 86
– Bacot: started; 22:46, 14 points, 4–9 FG, 6–6 FT, game-high 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 blocks, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, +1
Tuesday, July 15: Warriors 96, Grizzlies 84
– Bacot: didn’t start; 14:22, 3 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -11
Thursday, July 17: Hawks 92, Grizzlies 88
– Bacot: didn’t start; 11:57, 4 points, 2–3 FG, 1 rebound, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -3
Sunday, July 20: Grizzlies 105, Clippers 82
– Bacot: didn’t play
Washington Wizards schedule (Leaky Black)
Games in Las Vegas
Friday, July 11: Suns 103, Wizards 84
– Black: didn’t start, 9:27, 3 points, 0–3 FG, 0–3 3FG, 3–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -5
Sunday, July 13: Wizards 102, Nets 96
– Black: didn’t start; 15:42, 9 points, 3–3 FG, 2–2 3FG, 1–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, -12
Tuesday, July 15: Sixers 74, Wizards 58
– Black: started; 28:26, 4 points, 2–7 FG, 0–4 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -7
Wednesday, July 16: Jazz 86, Wizards 76
– Black: started; 33:16, 10 points, 3–9 FG, 1–3 3FG, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks, 1 turnovers, 1 foul, +/- of 0
Saturday, July 19: Wizards 94, Knicks 85
– Black: didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Los Angeles Lakers schedule (RJ Davis)
Games in San Francisco
July 5: Warriors 89, Lakers 84
– Davis: didn’t start; 13:01, 2 points, 1–7 FG, 0–3 3PFG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 foul, =/- of 0
July 6: Lakers 103, Heat 83
– Davis: didn’t start; 12:18, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–2 3PFG, 1 rebound, team-high tying 4 assists, 2 turnovers, +6
Tuesday, July 8: Lakers 89, Spurs 88
– Davis: didn’t start; 13:30, 4 points, 2–6 FG, 0–3 3FG, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +1
Games in Las Vegas
Thursday, July 10: Mavericks 87, Lakers 85
– Davis: didn’t start; 7:28, 3 points, 1–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1–3 FT, 1 assist, 3 fouls, -13
Saturday, July 12: Lakers 94, Pelicans 81
– Davis: didn’t start; 17:27, 9 points, 3–8 FG, 1–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +4
Monday, July 14: Clippers 67, Lakers 58
– Davis: didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Thursday, July 17: Celtics 87, Lakers 78
– Davis: didn’t start; 12:59, 3 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, -10
Friday, July 18: Nuggets 106, Lakers 84
– Davis: didn’t start; 25:29, 17 points, 6–11 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, -12
Detroit Pistons schedule (Garrison Brooks and Dawson Garcia)
Games in Las Vegas
Friday, July 11: Pistons 104, Knicks 86
– Garcia: didn’t start; 13:38, 6 points, 2–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 6 fouls, -4
– Brooks: didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Sunday, July 13: Pistons 98, Rockets 83
– Garcia: didn’t play (coach’s decision)
– Brooks: didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Tuesday, July 15: Timberwolves 89, Pistons 73
– Garcia: didn’t start; 9:49, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -1
– Brooks: didn’t start; 14:04, 1 points, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -9
Thursday, July 17: Pistons 108, Heat 88
– Garcia: started; 17:56, 12 points, 5–5 FG, 2–2 3FG, 0–1 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, 6 fouls, game-high +20
– Brooks: didn’t start; 19:56, 10 points, 5–7 FG, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls, +10
Saturday, July 19: Spurs 96, Pistons 84
– Garcia: didn’t start; 17:56, 14:04, 5 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 6 fouls, -3
– Brooks: didn’t start; 14:29, 6 points, 3–3 FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 fouls, +6
San Antonio Spurs schedule (Harrison Ingram)
Games in San Francisco
July 5: Heat 82, Spurs 69
— Ingram: started, 12:25, 3 points, 1–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, +3
July 6: Spurs 90, Warriors 88
— Ingram: started, 14:23, 8 points, 2–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 4–5 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +/- of 0
Tuesday, July 8: Lakers 89, Spurs 88
— Ingram: started, 22:02, 2 points, 2–8 FG, 0–2 3FG, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls, =/- of 0
Games in Las Vegas
Thursday, July 10: Spurs 111, Sixers 70
— Ingram: started, 19:25, 7 points, 3–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +24
Saturday, July 12, vs. Dallas: Spurs 76, Mavericks 69
— Ingram: started, 22:08, 4 points, 2–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +24
Monday, July 14: Spurs 93, Jazz 90, OT
— Ingram: started, 31:43, 15 points, 4–9 FG, 3–6 3FG, 4–4 FT, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, -9
Thursday, July 17: Hornets 106, Spurs 81
— Ingram: started, 24:28, 17 points, 6–12 FG, 5–11 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, -18
Saturday, July 19: Spurs 96, Pistons 84
— Ingram: started, 19:59, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assist, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -1
Portland Trail Blazers schedule (Caleb Love and Justin McKoy)
Games in Las Vegas
Friday, July 11: Trail Blazers 106, Warriors 73
— Love: started; 23:22, 18 points 7–16 FG, 4–7 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, +25
— McKoy: didn’t start: 5:32, 1 point, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 steal, +7
Saturday, July 12: Grizzlies 96, Trail Blazers 86
— Love: started; 29:23, 18 points 7–21 FG, 3–9 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -12
— McKoy: didn’t start: 5:23, 2 points, 0–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 foul, -1
Tuesday, July 15: Trail Blazers 93, Pelicans 87
— Love: started; 32:37, 17 points 5–16 FG, 3–8 3FG, 4–6 FT, 12 rebound, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, +4
— McKoy: didn’t start: 4:43, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, -12
Thursday, July 17, vs. Houston: Trail Blazers 102, Rockets 83
— Love: started; 25:34, 14 points 5–16 FG, 1–6 3FG, 3–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, +12
— McKoy: didn’t start: 13:23, 8 points, 2–6 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2 fouls, +17
Saturday, July 19: Suns 111, Trail Blazers 87
— Love: started; 23:12, 11 points, 3–8 FG, 0–3 3FG, 5–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnovers, 2 fouls, -21
— McKoy: didn’t start: 17:26, 6 points, 2–7 FG, 2–7 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, -7
Milwaukee Bucks schedule (Pete Nance and Cormac Ryan)
Games in Las Vegas
Thursday, July 10: Bucks 90, Nuggets 89
— Ryan: didn’t start; 22:21, 18 points, 6–11 FG, 3–6 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, team-high +16
— Nance: started; 26:44, 13 points, 4–9, 2–6 3FG, 3–5 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 turnovers, +6
Saturday, July 12, vs. Cleveland: Cavaliers 93, Bucks 83
— Nance: started; 29:31, 12 points, 5–11, 2–4 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 6 fouls, +1
— Ryan: didn’t start; 16:35, 6 points, 1–7 FG, 1–5 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -18
Sunday, July 13: Clippers 106, Bucks 91
— Nance: started; 27:45, 18 points, 7–11, 2–6 3FG, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, -9
— Ryan: started; 26:11, 11 points, 3–11 FG, 2–7 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, -5
Wednesday, July 16: Bulls 102, Bucks 96
— Nance: started; 28:26, 14 points, 5–9, 3–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, -9
— Ryan: didn’t start; 23:30, 15 points, 4–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 6–6 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 7 fouls, +14
Friday, July 18: Heat 93, Bucks 92
— Nance: not active for game
— Ryan: started; 27:03, 9 points, 1–8 FG, 0–6 3FG, 7–7 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, +4
Oklahoma City Thunder schedule (Kerwin Walton)
Games in Salt Lake City
July 5: Grizzlies 92, Thunder 80
— Walton: Did not play (coach’s decision)
July 7: Thunder 89, Sixers 78
— Walton: Did not play (coach’s decision)
Tuesday, July 8: Jazz 86, Thunder 82
— Walton: Did not play (coach’s decision)
Games in Las Vegas
Thursday, July 10: Thunder 90, Nets 81
— Walton: 51 seconds, 1 foul, -1
Saturday, July 12: Thunder 104, Pacers 85
— Walton: not active for the game
Tuesday, July 15: Thunder 92, Magic 75
— Walton: 2:38, 1 rebound, +/- of 0
Wednesday, July 16: Thunder 95, Pelicans 81
— Walton: 3:48, 2 points, 1–1 FG, 1 assist, -4
Saturday, July 19: Hornets 109, Thunder 80
— Walton: 5:48, 3 points, 1–1 FG, 1–1 3FG, +3
Photo via @spurs
tarheeltribune.com 