Category: Tar Heels in NBA

LOOK: Former UNC guard Cole Anthony back in Chapel Hill working out

Former UNC basketball and current Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony was back in Chapel Hill working out over the weekend.

The NBA offseason is here for the teams that failed to make the playoffs and that also means it’s a time where multiple former UNC basketball players return to Chapel Hill to workout in the summer months.

That’s the case for former North Carolina point guard [autotag]Cole Anthony[/autotag]. The current Orlando Magic guard just finished up his second season in the NBA.

The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 16.3 points per game this season in 65 games (65 starts). He averaged 31.7 minutes per game and shot 39.1 percent from the floor and 34 percent from three. He also added 5.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game.

Anthony had three 30+ point games this season. His best game, however was a 29-point, 16-rebound and 8-assist night against the New York Knicks.

In his lone season at North Carolina (2019-20), he averaged 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

Anthony took part in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest this season and was involved in the Rising Stars Game over the NBA All-Star weekend.

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Danny Green’s 76ers’ teammates react to his big dunk against Raptors

Danny Green’s Philadelphia 76ers’ teammates react to his big dunk in game two against the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.

During the Philadelphia 76ers’ 112-97 win over the Toronto Raptors in game two of the first round series on Monday, former UNC guard [autotag]Danny Green[/autotag] did something he hasn’t done in a while… dunk a basketball.

Green known for his three-point shooting a defensive ability threw down a big dunk en route to an 11-point outing in which he also hit three 3s.

With 4:25 left in the game, Tyrese Maxey got the rebound and started the fast break with Green streaking down the left side of the floor. Once they got past half court, Maxey gave it up to Green who went up and won the matchup at the rim with Pascal Siakam.

Not only did the dunk get the fans out of their seats, it also got his teammates pretty excited.

Here are some notable quotes from his teammates postgame:

Tyrese Maxey:

We played Toronto at Toronto a couple weeks ago and I threw him an almost identical pass and (Chris) Boucher blocked it. I said ‘Danny, you just gotta try to dunk it’ and he said ‘I got you in the playoffs’ so he dunked it today. I think we all were just started praying that he was OK. We’re gonna really need him and he needs to get an ice bath.

Tobias Harris: 

Yo, that was crazy. Because, like, Danny, he never (dunks). I was really shocked, because I thought he was gonna pass me the ball in the corner… That was tough though. That’s (making) Sportscenter? What y’all think? They still do top 10? That’s No. 1, then.

Doc Rivers: 

If Danny dunked, he’s 100%. That’s the equivalent to me dunking right now. That was great. We laugh because he’ll dunk in a practice every once in a while and the whole team yells ‘game shots’ like that’s not a game shot. Now, he can get us back, but he’s shooting the ball well, he’s playing well, his defense is back, and we need it.

Exchange between Joel Embiid and Danny Green postgame (sitting next to each other):

Danny Green: “I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal?”

Joel Embiid: “I mean, when’s the last time you dunked a basketball?”

Green: “It’s been a while. But…

Embiid: “Yeah, so they’re gonna drug test him tomorrow.”

The 76ers head into Toronto with a 2-0 series lead. Game three is Saturday at 2 pm ET on TNT.

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Cam Johnson named finalist for NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award

Former UNC forward Cam Johnson was named a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year Award.

In the midst of a career year, former UNC wing and current Phoenix Suns forward [autotag]Cam Johnson[/autotag] continues to be one of the more valuable pieces to any NBA team.

On Sunday, Johnson was named a finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award. The other two finalists are Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat and Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In 66 games this season, Johnson averaged 12.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He also shot 42.5 percent from three on 2.5 made 3s per game. In total, Johnson set new career-highs in points (12.5), rebounds (4.1), assists (1.5), steals (0.9), field goal percentage (46%), three-point percentage (42.5%) and free throw percentage (86%).

The former NBA Lottery pick — 11th overall in 2019 — has lived up to the three-point shooter he was known for at North Carolina. Each year, however, he has continued to add more and more to his all-around game.

In his three years, Johnson has averaged 10.4 points per game and 39 percent from three. He has played in 183 games with just 36 starts.

Johnson played in 21 playoff games a season ago and averaged 8.2 points per game while shooting 44.6 percent from three.

The Suns have the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference and face the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round.

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WATCH: Danny Green finally receives Raptors championship ring

Former UNC guard Danny Green finally received his championship ring from his one season with Toronto in 2019.

After 1,029 days, former UNC wing [autotag]Danny Green[/autotag] received his championship ring from the 2019 title with the Toronto Raptors.

Because of Covid, the NBA bubble took away the first opportunity for Green to return to Toronto and then the Raptors played their home games in Tampa Bay last season.

On Thursday, Green not only received his ring but also received a loud and standing ovation. Green would finish with 18 points on the night.

Green did travel to Toronto when the Philadelphia 76ers played the Raptors on December 28, 2021, but due to the omicron variant, the crowd was limited to 50 percent capacity. Green decided to wait until he could have a full crowd in attendance.

The 13-year NBA vet played one season for the Raptors when he averaged 10.3 points and shot 45.5 percent from three — a career high.

Now in his second year with the Philadelphia 76ers, Green is averaging 5.9 points per game on 38.2 percent shooting from three. He has come off of the bench for the majority of the season.

Green is one of four players (Robert Horry, John Salley and LeBron James) to win a championship with three different franchises.

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George Karl to be inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Former UNC basketball standout and NBA coach George Karl will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame this year.

Another Tar Heel is heading to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Former UNC player and NBA head coach George Karl will be a part of the 2022 class going into the Hall of Fame later this year. The class was reported on Thursday, featuring Karl along with Manu Ginóbili, Tim Hardaway, Swin Cash and Bob Huggins.

As part of the announcement, the 2022 class will be revealed at halfcourt during the Final Four. For Karl, he will be there to see his Tar Heels take on Duke at the event, making it a little extra sweeter in New Orleans that weekend.

Karl coached 28 seasons in the NBA going 1175-824 in the regular season and 80-105 in the postseason. He’s currently sixth all-time in wins in NBA history.

The class will be inducted later this Summer with a special ceremony.

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