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, vs. Boston, 4 p.m., NBATV
Saturday, July 12, vs. Portland, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2
Tuesday, July 15, vs. Golden State, 10:30 p.m., NBATV
Thursday, July 17, vs. Atlanta, 6 p.m., NBATV
Washington Wizards schedule (Leaky Black)
Games in Las Vegas
Friday, July 11, vs. Phoenix, 9 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, July 13, vs. Brooklyn, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Tuesday, July 15, vs. Philadelphia, NBATV
Wednesday, July 16, vs. Utah, ESPN
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, vs. Dallas, 8 p.m., ESPN
Saturday, July 12, vs. New Orleans, 8:30, ESPN2
Monday, July 14, vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30, NBATV
Thursday, July 17, vs. Boston, 9 p.m., ESPN
Detroit Pistons schedule (Garrison Brooks and Dawson Garcia)
Games in Las Vegas
Friday, July 11, vs. New York, 6 p.m., NBATV
Sunday, July 13, vs. Houston, 4 p.m., ESPN2
Tuesday, July 15, vs. Minnesota, 4:30, NBATV
Thursday, July 17, vs. Miami, NBATV
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, 1–7 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, +3
Games in Las Vegas
Thursday, July 10, vs. Philadelphia, 10 p.m., ESPN
Saturday, July 12, vs. Dallas, ESPN
Monday, July 14, vs. Utah, 8:30, NBATV
Thursday, July 17, vs. Charlotte, ESPN
Portland Trail Blazers schedule (Caleb Love and Justin McKoy)
Games in Las Vegas
Friday, July 11, vs Golden State, 11 p.m., ESPN2
Saturday, July 12, vs. Memphis, 10:30, ESPN2
Tuesday, July 15, vs. New Orleans, 10 p.m., ESPN
Thursday, July 17, vs. Houston, 8 p.m., NBATV
Milwaukee Bucks schedule (Pete Nance and Cormac Ryan)
Games in Las Vegas
Thursday, July 10, vs. Denver, 9:30 p.m., NBATV
Saturday, July 12, vs. Cleveland, 3:30 p.m., NBATV
Sunday, July 13, vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 9:30 p.m., NBATV
Wednesday, July 16, vs. Chicago, 5:30, ESPN2
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, vs. Brooklyn, 4:30, ESPN2
Saturday, July 12, vs. Indiana, 4:30, NBATV
Tuesday, July 15, vs. Orlando, 5:30, NBATV
Wednesday, July 16, vs. New Orleans, 8:30, NBATV
Photo via @spurs
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