By R.L. Bynum
Harrison Barnes returned after missing five games with an ankle injury to produce one of his best games of the season, while a thumb injury ended a productive season for Day’Ron Sharpe and there were big game in the G League for RJ Davis and Caleb Love.
In San Antonio’s 136–131 Thursday home loss to Denver, Barnes collected 20 points, two 3-pointers and seven rebounds in his best game and first with at least 20 points since Dec. 8.
On the winning side of that game, Cameron Johnson played well in Denver wins on back-to-back nights. Johnson, who combined for 16 points in losses on Friday and Tuesday, scored 17 points and three 3-pointers with four assists in Wednesday’s 129–93 home win over Houston, then had 15 points and five rebounds against the Spurs.
Sharpe finished his season with two strong games before Brooklyn opted for him to have season-ending surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb.
In Saturday’s 107–105 upset win at Detroit, he collected 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. In his final game of the season, Monday’s 126–115 win over Memphis, Sharpe tied his season-high with 19 points, and added five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.
Among players averaging fewer than 20 minutes per game, Sharpe’s total of points, rebounds and assists per game of 17.71 led the league.
After contributing 11 points, five rebounds and two assists in the G League on Friday as the Long Island Nets won close to home for him with a 117–115 road win over the Greensboro Swarm, Drake Powell started two games for Brooklyn.
Powell, who has averaged 11.8 points, five rebounds and three assists in five G League games, had nine points, three rebounds and two assists in Monday’s win over Memphis. In Thursday’s 108–97 loss at Atlanta, he contributed 11 points and three assists.
Leaky Black only played in two of Washington’s three games in the last week, scoring double figures in both. He started Sunday’s 138–118 loss at New Orleans, and had 10 points, two 3-pointers, four rebounds and two assists. In Thursday’s 136–131 overtime loss at Orlando, Black had 12 points, two 3-pointers, four rebounds and three assists with a team-high +14.
Davis poured in 30 points and six 3-pointers in 34 minutes on Friday night in the South Bay Lakers’ 131–110 road win over the Santa Cruz Warriors. He combined for only 12 points in 31 minutes in his other two games.
Love had 26 points in 29 minutes Friday in the Rip City Remix’s 132–122 home win over the Valley Suns, and 18 points in Saturday’s 126–125 win over Valley. He wasn’t active for Rip City’s last two games, though.
Assuming both are still in the G League, they will face off at 6 p.m. Sunday when South Bay visits Rip City, and it will be televised on Prime Video.
Harrison Ingram produced a pair of double-doubles for the Austin Spurs in their three wins. He had 15 points and 13 rebounds in Sunday’s 119–118 road win over the Sioux City Skyforce and 20 points and 12 rebounds in Tuesday’s 94–86 road win over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists in Thursday’s 122–119 home win over the Texas Legends.
Elsewhere among former UNC players:
— Coby White played in three of Charlotte’s four games, sitting out one game to manage his left calf injury. He had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in the Hornets’ 128–120 Friday home loss to Miami, and combined for 16 points in his other two games.
— Pete Nance played in three of Milwaukee’s four games in the last week, combining for 11 points and nine rebounds.
— The Wisconsin Herd played four games in the last week and Cormac Ryan didn’t play in any of them.
— Cole Anthony remains unsigned two weeks after the Phoenix Suns waived him.
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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 — Reserve 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
Thursday — Hawks 123, Spurs 116 (home) | didn’t start: 16:30, 7 points, 2–5 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +3
Saturday — Suns 102, Spurs 98 (road) | didn’t start: 16:54, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +3
Next exhibition — 9 p.m. Monday at Utah
Season opener — 9:30 Tuesday, Oct. 20, 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; likely to play in G League
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
Thursday — Lakers 114, Kings 110 (road) | didn’t start: 10:45, 4 points, 2–2 FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 foul, -3
Saturday — Warriors 111, Kings 106 (road) | didn’t start: 17:21, 9 points, 3–4 FG, 3–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -1
Next exhibition — 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Portland
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)
Final statistics last season — 41 games, 4.0 points, 54.7 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 74.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds
Preseason opener — 76ers 120, Knicks 97 (Monday) | didn’t start: 6:05, 2 points, 1–1 FG, -2
Thursday — Wizards 111, Knicks 109 (home) | didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next exhibition — 7:30 Monday vs. Minnesota, NBATV
Season opener — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, vs. Philadelphia, NBC
RJ Davis, San Antonio Spurs guard
Age 24 (turns 25 Oct. 21) | 6–0, 182 | second season | $1.35 million salary | UNC 2020–25 (5 seasons)
Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot; likely to play in G League
G League statistics last season (South Bay) — 49 games, 18.4 points, 46.8 FG%, 42.4 3P%, 86.4 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists
Thursday — Hawks 123, Spurs 116 (home) | didn’t start: 7:15, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, -8
Saturday — Suns 102, Spurs 98 (road) | didn’t start: 4:20, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2 turnovers, -3
Next exhibition — 9 p.m. Monday at Utah
Season opener — 9:30 Tuesday, Oct. 20, vs. Oklahoma City, NBC/Peacock
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
Team record last season: 62–20, 2nd in Western Conference
Tuesday — Nuggets 117, Jazz 106 (home) | didn’t start: 7:35, 7 points, 3–5 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, +5
Next exhibition — 9 p.m. Monday vs. San Antonio
Season opener — 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Phoenix
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
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
Thursday — Lakers 114, Kings 110 (home) | Didn’t play (coach’s decision; jammed finger)
Next exhibition — 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Golden State, NBATV
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
Thursday — Nets 114, 76ers 108 (road) | didn’t start: 13:34, 4 points, 2–5 FG, 0–3 3FG, 5 assists, 2 fouls, +2
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, Oct. 20, 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
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
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
Team record last season: 20–62, 13th in Eastern Conference
Thursday — Nets 114, Sixers 108 (home) | didn’t start: 14:26, 4 points, 1–4 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 foul, +3
Next exhibition — 7 p.m. Monday at Washington
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
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
Thursday — Nets 114, Sixers 108 (home) | didn’t play (left shoulder soreness)
Next exhibition — 7 p.m. Monday at Washington
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
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)
Photo via @BrooklynNets
