By R.L. Bynum
In his fourth NBA start, Leaky Black had the best game of his career.
Playing alongside Trae Young in the Washington Wizards’ backcourt, Black played 39 minutes, scoring 16 points and four 3-pointers, all career-highs, in their 122–112 home loss Thursday to the Utah Jazz. It was the Wizards debut for Young, who they acquired in a January trade.
Black, who made both free-throw attempts and pulled down three rebounds, got starts in three consecutive games in 2024 for the Charlotte Hornets but combined for only nine points in those games.
Black’s previous career-high was 11 points for Charlotte, when he also had six rebounds and five assists, against Cleveland on April 14, 2024.
Black was on an Exhibit 10 contract and playing for the Capital City Go-Go in the G League when the Wizards signed him to a two-way contract on Feb. 21. In 38 games for the Go-Go, Black averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals.
Caleb Love is also on a two-way contract, but his season has gone the opposite direction, and he has played his last four games in the G League after playing 45 games for the Portland Trail Blazers.
On Wednesday, he poured in 26 points with five assists and three steals in the Rip City Remix’s 136–117 home win over the Iowa Wolves.
In his fourth game in the G League for the Long Island Nets, Drake Powell scored 21 points and three 3-pointers with three rebounds in their 116–111 road win close to home Wednesday against the Greensboro Swarm. Powell plays again in Greensboro on Friday at 6:30.
Only hours after being honored at halftime of UNC’s victory over Clemson on Tuesday for having his jersey put up in the rafters, RJ Davis scored 23 points and three 3-pointers in 29 minutes. His South Bay Lakers won 129–120 on the road against the Oklahoma City Blue on Wednesday in a game that started at noon.
Coby White was productive again, collecting 17 points, two 3-pointers and six assists Wednesday as Charlotte rolled to a 118–89 victory at Boston.
Elsewhere among former UNC players:
—Harrison Barnes missed his second consecutive San Antonio game with a sore left ankle, a 121–106 Thursday home win over Detroit.
—Cameron Johnson was out with right ankle inflammation for the second game in a row, Denver’s 120–113 home win Thursday over the Los Angeles Lakers.
—Day’Ron Sharpe had seven points and five rebounds in Brooklyn’s 126–110 loss Thursday at Miami.
—Pete Nance had three points in Milwaukee’s 131–113 Wednesday home loss to Atlanta
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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 @CapitalCityGoGo
