By R.L. Bynum
RJ Davis continued his outstanding season in the G League with an appearance Sunday in the league’s Up Next event in Los Angeles as part of NBA All-Star Weekend, leading his team to the championship of the four-team tournament.
Davis entered the event riding major momentum, including a triple-double, a career-high 45-point performance, and a recent G League Player of the Week honor while playing for the South Bay Lakers.
In a mini-game format, Davis started both of his team’s games. He was a team-high +19 in leading his Team White to a 37–25 first-round victory over Team Blue, scoring five points, one 3-pointer with two assists and a steal in five minutes. Davis scored his team’s last two baskets in the victory.
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That advanced his team to the championship, where it lost 31–29 to Team Black, falling on a last-second shot. Davis again scored five points and a 3-pointer, tallying a rebound, an assist and a block in six minutes.
Among Davis’ teammates were former Kansas center Hunter Dickinson and former Creighton guard Trey Alexander.
In Davis’ final game of the season’s first half for South Bay, he scored 18 points and three 3-pointers with five rebounds and five assists in a 128–116 home win on Wednesday over the San Diego Clippers. He’s averaging 19.5 points per game while making 41.2% of his 3-point attempts and 87.6% of his free-throw attempts.
Harrison Ingram had two more monster double-double games in the G League last week in two Austin Spurs road wins over the Iowa Wolves, 130–124 on Tuesday and 135–120 on Wednesday.
He had 30 points, 14 rebounds and five assists on Tuesday and 25 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals on Wednesday. Ingram, who has only played three early-season games in the NBA, is averaging a double-double with 15.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.
In Cormac Ryan’s only game last week, he had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists in his Wisconsin Herd’s 124–110 Tuesday loss to the Birmingham Squadron.
Day’ Ron Sharpe produced his fourth double-double of the season Wednesday in Brooklyn’s 115–110 home loss to Indiana. Sharpe, in his fourth start of the season, collected 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.
Drake Powell, who had his number retired Thursday by Pittsboro’s Northwood High School, had six points in 19½ minutes off the bench in that Nets loss.
Portland must make a decision by the end of the month on Caleb Love because he’s on a two-way contract that limits him to 50 NBA games. With 45 games played, the Blazers soon will have to send him to the G League or convert his contract to a full NBA contract.
After not playing in Wednesday’s 133–109 loss at Minnesota, delaying the decision until at least Feb. 26, he had 11 points on 4 of 12 shooting in Thursday’s 135–119 victory at Utah.
Coby White, nursing a left calf strain, still hasn’t made his Charlotte Hornets debut. He last played on Feb. 3, scoring 21 points for the Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee.
Elsewhere in pro basketball:
— Cole Anthony and Tony Bradley remain in limbo. Milwaukee traded Anthony to Phoenix at the trade deadline, with the Suns reportedly expected to waive him. Indiana didn’t renew Bradley’s 10-day contract, but it remains possible that the Pacers re-sign him.
— Harrison Barnes came off the bench in two San Antonio wins, both on the road, scoring 11 points and three 3-pointers in the Spurs’ 136–108 win Tuesday over the Los Angeles Lakers and 10 points with five rebounds in Wednesday’s 126–113 victory over Golden State.
— Pete Nance had 11 points, three 3-pointers, seven rebounds, and two assists in nearly 24 minutes of Milwaukee’s 110–93 Thursday win at Oklahoma City after playing less than five scoreless minutes in the Bucks’ 116–108 Wednesday win at Orlando.
— Cameron Johnson contributed five points and four rebounds on 2 of 7 shooting in Denver’s only game last week, a 122–116 home win over Memphis.
— Leaky Black combined for 13 points and 11 rebounds in two Capital City Go-Go losses.
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 — 3 games, 18.9 minutes, 10.7 points, 38.9 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 85.7 FT%, 1.3 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.7 of a 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
Next exhibition — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Phoenix
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
Next exhibition — 8 p.m. Friday at San Antonio
Season opener — 10:30 Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Los Angeles Clippers
Tony Bradley, New York Knicks center
Age 28 | 6–10, 248 | 8th pro season | Exhibit 9 contract | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot; fifth-string center
Final statistics last season (Indiana, Atlanta) — 41 games, 4.0 points, 54.7 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 74.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds
Preseason statistics — 3 games, 7.5 minutes, 5.3 points, 80.0 FG%, 0–1 FT, 1.7 rebounds
Monday — 76ers 120, Knicks 97 (road) | didn’t start: 6:05, 2 points, 1–1 FG, -2
Tuesday — Raptors 148, Knicks 98 (road) | didn’t start: 9:09, 4 points, 2–4 FG, 0–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -15
Next exhibition — 7:30 Thursday vs. Toronto
Season opener — 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Philadelphia, NBC
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
Next exhibition — 10 p.m. Friday at Phoenix
Season opener — 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 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 — 3 games, 18.5 minutes, 11.0 points, 57.1 FG%, 40.9 3P%, 85.2 FT%, 2.0 rebounds, 0.7 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
Next exhibition — 10:30 Wednesday at Los Angeles Clippers, NBATV
Season opener — 9:30 Thursday, Oct. 22, 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
Next exhibition — 10:30 Friday vs. Denver, ESPN
Season opener — 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 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
Next 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 — 3 games, 8.7 minutes, 12 points, 4–8 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
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
Next exhibition — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Chicago
Season opener — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 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 — 3 games, 11.6 minutes, 4.7 points, 23.5 FG%, 15.4 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 1.0 rebound, 1.0 steal, 0.3 of a 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
Next exhibition — 7:30 Thursday vs. Toronto
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 — 3 games, 12.4 minutes, 5.3 points, 50.0 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 2–2 FG, 1.0 rebound, 0.7 of an assists, 0.7 of a steal
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
Next exhibition — 7:30 Wednesday at Miami
Season opener — 7:30 Wednesday, Oct. 21, 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 — 1 game, 11 minutes, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Sunday — Hornets 105, Bucks 90 (road) | didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next exhibition — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Chicago
Season opener — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 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 — 2 games, 19.8 minutes, 6.0 points, 50.0 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 25.0 FT%, 4.5 rebound, 1.5 steal, 1.5 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
Next exhibition — 7:30 Wednesday at Miami
Season opener — 7:30 Wednesday, Oct. 21, 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, Oct. 21, 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 — 3 games, 28.7 minutes, 17.7 points, 45.2 FG%, 31.6 3P%, 56.3 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 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
Next exhibition — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Milwaukee
Season opener — 7:30 Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Toronto
Likely out for season
Atlanta Hawks center Henri Veesaar (tore right ACL on Sept.15)
Waived in training camp
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 @SouthBayLakers
