By R.L. Bynum
Cormac Ryan finished his season with a flourish as Coby White heads to the Play-In Tournament for the fourth consecutive season, and Cameron Johnson and Harrison Barnes prepare for the playoffs.
In his 11 games since joining the Milwaukee Bucks’ roster, Ryan made a solid case that he deserves to stick in the NBA. He averaged 14.3 points, while shooting 52% from the floor, 45.8% from 3-point range and 92.3% at the free-throw line.
“He can shoot the ball, he’s a playmaker, high IQ, but the thing that stands out to me is he has this inner toughness that I really enjoy,” said Doc Rivers, who has been Ryan’s coach with the Bucks but won’t return to that role next season.
Ryan had never previously played in the NBA before his debut on March 19 after averaging 20.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 31 G League games for the Wisconsin Herd.
He is the first rookie in NBA history with at least 100 field-goal attempts to shoot at least 50% from the floor, at least 40% on 3-point attempts and at least 90% at the free-throw line.
He scored in double figures in all four games over the last week of the season for the Bucks (32–50). He collected 28 points and five 3-pointers in Friday’s 125–108 home win over Brooklyn. In Sunday’s 125–106 loss at Philadelphia, Ryan notched his first NBA double-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a steal.
Fellow UNC alum Pete Nance sat out the last two games with a right knee sprain after combining for eight points in games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
White continues to put up consistent performances off the bench for Charlotte (44–38). After sitting out Tuesday’s game with a groin injury, he scored 11 points in Friday’s 118–110 home loss to Detroit and netted 19 points and three 3-pointers in Sunday’s 110–96 win at New York.
In 50 regular-season games, he averaged 17.4 points and made 36.2% of his 3-point attempts and 81.7% of his free-throw attempts.
White faces the same scenario he dealt with in the last three seasons with the Chicago Bulls: needing to win two play-in games to make the playoffs and facing the Miami Heat.
Chicago won the first game and lost the second in 2023 and 2024, and lost the opener in 2025. Each season ended with losses to Miami: 102–91 in 2023, 112–91 in 2024 and 109–90 in 2025.
The Hornets host Miami at 7:30 Tuesday (Prime Video). The loser is eliminated while the winner advances to meet the loser of Wednesday’s 7:30 play-in game between Philadelphia and Orlando (Prime Video) in another elimination game.
Barnes’ Spurs are the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and Johnson’s Nuggets are the No. 3 seed in the West.
San Antonio (62–20) hosts Game 1 of its first-round series at 9 p.m. Sunday (NBC, Peacock). The Spurs will face the No. 7 seed, the winner of the 10 p.m. Tuesday play-in game between Phoenix and Portland (NBC, Peacock).
Denver (54–28) hosts Game 1 of its series at 3:30 Saturday (Prime Video) against No. 6 Minnesota.
Barnes finished the regular season with a pair of double-figure scoring games, netting 15 points in Friday’s 139–120 home win over Dallas and 12 points in Sunday’s 128–119 win over Denver.
Barnes’ 9.9 scoring average was his lowest since averaging 9.5 in 2013–14 (his second NBA season), and 52 starts were his fewest since starting 23 in 2013–14.
Johnson sat out Sunday’s Nuggets win and Friday’s win against Oklahoma City with an ankle injury after two solid games last week. He had 17 points and six rebounds in Monday’s 137–132 home win over Portland, then scored 18 points in Wednesday’s 136–119 home victory over Memphis.
Leaky Black averaged 7.1 points and 50 rebounds for the Washington Wizards (17–65) over 15 games after playing 38 games in the G League. His best game of the final week was 14 points, nine rebounds and two steals in Thursday’s 119–108 home loss to Chicago.
In his first games since the Atlanta Hawks (46–36) signed him, Tony Bradley combined for 11 points in three games. He averaged 4.0 points and shot 54.7% from the floor over 41 games this season, 30 of those with the Indiana Pacers.
The Hawks meet New York in the first round, with Game 1 at 6 p.m. Saturday (Prime Video).
Drake Powell struggled to find a rhythm in the final several games of the season for the Brooklyn Nets (20–62). He had 11 points in Tuesday’s 96–90 win over Milwaukee for his only double-figure scoring game in his four games last week. He sat out Friday’s game.
Caleb Love briefly appeared in two Portland games last week, going scoreless in a total of less than four minutes, missing his only shot. The Trail Blazers (42–40) play at Phoenix at 10 p.m. Tuesday in the Play-In Tournament.
Neither RJ Davis nor Harrison Ingram played in NBA games last week.
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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
Preseason opener — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Atlanta
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
Preseason opener — Lakers 127, Kings 103 (Monday) | Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next exhibition — 10:30 Thursday at Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN2
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
Next exhibition — 7:30 Thursday vs. Washington, 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
Team record last season: 62–20, 2nd in Western Conference
Preseason opener — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Atlanta
Season opener — 9:30 Tuesday, Oct. 20, vs. Oklahoma City, NBC/Peacock
Harrison Ingram, Utah Jazz forward
Age 23 (turns 25 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
Preseason opener — Jazz 109, Nuggets 97 (Sunday) | didn’t start: 12:00, 6 points, 3–7 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 turnover, two fouls, +1
Next exhibition — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Denver
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
Preseason opener — Jazz 109, Nuggets 97 (Sunday) | started: 15:20, 8 points, 3–7 FG, 2–6 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls, -7
Next exhibition — 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. San Antonio
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
Preseason opener — Lakers 127, Kings 103 (Monday) | Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next exhibition — 10 p.m. Tuesday at 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
Preseason opener — 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, vs. New York
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
Preseason opener — 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, vs. Minnesota
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
Preseason opener — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Charlotte
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 opener — 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, vs. Minnesota
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 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
Preseason opener — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Charlotte
Season opener — 7:30 Wednesday, Oct. 21, vs. Charlotte
Henri Veesaar, Atlanta Hawks center
Age 22 | 7–0, 227 | rookie season| 1.35 million salary | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Roster situation — Likely out for the season after tearing right ACL on Sept. 15
Statistics last season (UNC) — 31 games, 17.0 points, 60.8 FG%, 42.6 3P%, 61.5 FT%, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks
Coby White, Charlotte Hornets forward
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
Preseason opener — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, vs. Brooklyn
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 opener — 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, vs. Phoenix
Season opener — 7:30 Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Toronto
Photo via @Bucks
