Tag: Wayne Ellington

Cam Johnson or Wayne Ellington – who would you add to UNC’s 2023-2024 roster?

UNC basketball fans took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to vote on adding either Wayne Ellington or Cam Johnson to this year’s team.

There’s been one key element to every successful basketball team to come through the University of North Carolina – program-defining players.

Michael Jordan is undoubtedly the greatest player to don a Tar Heels uniform. Antawn Jamison, Sean May, Ty Lawson, Tyler Hansbrough, Joel Berry, Marcus Paige and Kennedy Meeks are just a few of the many greats in recent years.

There’s two more guys who’ve been vital to UNC’s success in the 2000’s – Wayne Ellington and Cam Johnson.

Ellington was a vital perimeter shooter part of the Heels’ 2009 championship team. Johnson, who spent the latter half of his collegiate years at UNC, shot over 50 percent from the field in 2018-2019 and was tabbed as “one of the best shooters in the draft.”

This year’s Carolina squad already has an all-time great in Armando Bacot on the roster, plus one of the best scorers to come through Chapel Hill in R.J. Davis.

If the Heels could add Ellington or Johnson, however, who would fans rather have?

A few UNC fans took to X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday night and explained their picks:

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Wayne Ellington reveals why he picked UNC over Villanova

Former UNC basketball standout Wayne Ellington told a great story about why he picked the Tar Heels over Villanova.

Former North Carolina guard Wayne Ellington played a vital role in the Tar Heels winning the 2009 National Championships and reaching back-to-back Final Fours.

Ellington developed into one of the best shooters in the country, averaging 16.6 points per game in his sophomore season and then 15.8 in his junior season.  This also included shooting over 40 percent from the three-point line in both of those years.

The former five-star recruit out of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania picked the Tar Heels over four other programs including in-state Villanova. So beating the Wildcats in the 2009 Final Four was a big deal to him. And now we know exactly why.

During an appearance on Tyler Hansbrough’s SleepHawk Worldwide podcast, Ellington revealed

“But you don’t know why it was so big for me, Tyler,” Ellington said. “Bro, I told Jay Wright who I love, who I love dearly, who is like one of the best coaches and best people that I’ve been around in the game. I told him the reason why I’m not coming to Villanova is because I want to go win a championship.”

That quote drew a few ‘wows’ from Hansbrough as he heard that come out of Ellington’s mouth. That’s indeed a ‘wow’ moment as Wright and Villanova were a very respected program at the time as well.

Ellington goes on to say that he would have been sick if they lost that game and had to watch Villanova go play for the national championship instead.

UNC is sure glad Ellington chose the right school.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

3 free agent wing players still available who make sense Sixers

Here are 3 wing players in free agency who are still available and make sense for the Philadelphia 76ers to acquire.

The Philadelphia 76ers are just about done with their offseason moves after agreeing to a 2-year deal with James Harden to keep him in the City of Brotherly Love, but there are still some free agents available that would help their bench unit.

At the moment the Sixers have a full roster. So in order to make another addition, they would have to make a corresponding move to free up a roster spot for that player, but there are some options for them out there.

The Sixers can still look for a minimum bargain this late in the game in order to add another bench player and there are three players who stick out at the wing spots that make sense.

Lakers guard Wayne Ellington shares his pick for NBA MVP

One player on the Lakers is adamant about who he thinks deserves this year’s NBA MVP award.

Heading into the first round of the playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers looked to be in some trouble going up against the upstart Toronto Raptors.

But Philly won its first two games, and in the third contest of the series, Sixers superstar center Joel Embiid made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put his team up 3-0 in the series.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Wayne Ellington was clearly impressed, and he made it obvious who he thinks should win the regular-season MVP award this year.

Via Lakers Daily:

“Los Angeles Lakers guard Wayne Ellington left little doubt who he believes should be this year’s NBA Most Valuable Player, selecting Joel Embiid.”

Embiid finished Game 3 with 33 points and 13 rebounds, and it came on the heels of a 31-point, 11-rebound performance in Game 2.

The MVP race appears to be very close. Embiid seems to have a very close competitor, Milwaukee Bucks leader Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has already won the award twice.

The other finalist is Denver Nuggets maestro Nikola Jokic, who won last year’s MVP.

What is clear is LeBron James will get little to no consideration for the award, despite the fact that he had one of his most impressive seasons, statistically at least, and despite former Lakers coach Frank Vogel vouching for James being deserving of the award.

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Lakers are extremely short-handed vs Raptors

The latest on the Lakers’ injury status against the Toronto Raptors.

As if things haven’t been bad enough for the Los Angeles Lakers lately, things will be even worse tonight against the Toronto Raptors.

Guard Talen Horton-Tucker, who has been dealing with a sprained ankle will be out, as will Carmelo Anthony and Wayne Ellington, who both have non-COVID illnesses.

This will make the Lakers’ bench, which has already been an issue, extremely thin. The team’s bench has already had trouble of late producing points in an efficient manner.

LeBron James will play, but he is continuing to manage left knee soreness.

The Lakers are 2-9 since the All-Star break. With the New Orleans Pelicans, who are in 10th place in Western Conference, breathing down their necks, the Lakers badly need to start stringing together wins.

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Wayne Ellington is amazed by what LeBron James is doing this season

Even Wayne Ellington is astounded by LeBron James’ play for the Los Angeles Lakers.

If the 2021-22 campaign has shown the NBA world anything, it’s that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James can still dominate on the court.

James is averaging a whopping 28.9 points per game this season on 52.8% shooting overall and 37.2% from deep while grabbing 7.4 rebounds per game and dishing 6.6 assists per game.

Though the Lakers have been grappling with a .500 record all season, James is primarily the reason the situation is not worse. The things James is doing on the court amaze even his teammates, such as veteran guard Wayne Ellington.

“Everything. I mean, he’s just showing us everything,” Ellington said after James dropped 35 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. “He’s gotten hot from the three, he’s got in the lane, he’s played the 5, he’s picking and rolling, he’s picking and popping, being a point guard, being a center, everything in-between.

“He’s done everything for our team so far this year. At 37, it’s unbelievable. Hats off to him, seriously. Whatever he’s doing, he needs to keep on doing.”

If the Lakers hope to compete for a title this season, James will definitely need to keep doing what he’s doing.

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Frank Vogel credits Lakers for 3-point shooting vs. Heat

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel praised the team for hitting 3s in the win against the Miami Heat.

The Los Angeles Lakers faced the Miami Heat’s stingy defense on  Wednesday, but won, 120-117.

Miami entered the game ranking first in points per game allowed and fourth in 3-point percentage allowed, but the Lakers had success all night knocking down the long ball.

Los Angeles hit 18-of-38 (47.4%) 3s, which played a huge role in the win. After the game, head coach Frank Vogel discussed how the Lakers’ plan came to fruition.

“That’s the key. You know Miami is going to put five defenders in the paint,” Vogel said. “The plan was to space and see the second side all night and take what the defense was going to give you. They want to load to the paint and leave the backside, then that’s where the shots are going to be.”

Vogel credited Wayne Ellington (4-of-6 3P), Malik Monk (4-of-7 3P) and Avery Bradley (5-of-8 3P) for their shooting.

“We wanted our guys to be shot-ready, and Wayne, Malik and Avery all came through in that regard.”

Even Russell Westbrook shot 3-of-7 from downtown; he’s shooting 28% from deep on the season but flipped the switch against a potential title contender.

The Lakers will not shoot 47% from deep every game, but the team certainly has the personnel to do so.

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Lakers news: Frank Vogel provides injury updates on Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn, Wayne Ellington

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel discussed Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn and Wayne Ellington’s status for the regular-season opener.

The Los Angeles Lakers have already begun dealing with various injuries before the regular season has started.

In addition to Trevor Ariza and Talen Horton-Tucker, who recently underwent surgeries, Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn and Wayne Ellington missed the final games of the preseason due to injuries.

As the regular-season opener against the Golden State Warriors approaches Tuesday, head coach Frank Vogel provided injury updates on Monk, Nunn and Ellington after Sunday’s practice.

“We still don’t know how they’re going to be listed, but Kendrick did participate in practice along with Malik, and Wayne did not,” Vogel said. “Obviously, we’ll see how Kendrick responds to the work today before we decide his availability, him and Malik.”

It’s good news for the Lakers to have Nunn and Malik back on the floor. Monk was seen in a social media post dunking in practice, which could indicate he’s feeling good after dealing with a groin strain.

Both Nunn and Monk diversify the Lakers’ offensive attack, so having their shooting and creating abilities against a solid Golden State defense would be imperative.

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Winners and losers from the Lakers’ 2021-22 preseason

Ranking members of the Los Angeles Lakers as a winner or loser based on how they performed in the preseason.

The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up the 2021-22 preseason with a dismaying 0-6 record.

The context differed in every game as the Lakers had to shuffle the rotation frequently because of injuries or rest allotted to the new star trio in LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

But the preseason also presents an opportunity for rotational players and fringe players to compete for a roster spot or a chance at being a rotational fixture with the stars.

Before injuries derailed their preseason, Malik Monk and Talen Horton-Tucker were two emerging guards that impressed through three games.

But other players couldn’t take advantage of the battle for minutes.

Here are some winners and losers for the Lakers after the preseason:

Lakers’ Wayne Ellington doesn’t think age will be a problem next season

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Wayne Ellington explained why he’s not focusing on the age of the roster next year.

The overarching theme this offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers has boiled down to age.

Los Angeles hasn’t had many young players or rookies on the roster in recent years since trading for Anthony Davis, and that trend persisted this summer when L.A. added Russell Westbrook to the financial books.

The Lakers were already dealing with limited finances before that move, so adding the 32-year-old guard, who is on a contract over $40 million, tightened the team’s spending ability further.

L.A. had no other choice but to persuade veterans to take the minimum and compete for a ring alongside Westbrook, Davis and LeBron James; it didn’t take much convincing.

Carmelo Anthony (37), Dwight Howard (36), Trevor Ariza (36), Rajon Rondo (35) and DeAndre Jordan (33) were among the prominent signings in free agency, which has produced questions about the roster’s age and if the group is good enough to win a title.

Wayne Ellington, who turns 34 in November, was also in the mix of the several experienced additions. However, he doesn’t believe age will be an issue for the squad.

“I don’t think it’ll be a problem at all,” Ellington said during his introductory conference. “I think age is just a number. I feel like we got guys that have been pretty healthy, still moving really well and even some guys that are playing some of their best basketball right now at this age.”

Ellington also recalled James’ words when the 36-year-old star responded to the age criticisms of the roster during the early stages of free agency.

“With the experience and the type of leadership that we have, I don’t think that will be any problem. Like Bron said, ‘Just make sure everybody keeps that same energy when we get on the court.'”

As Ellington pointed out, despite the presumed age limitations for some of these players, some are still exceeding expectations, including himself.

Last season with the Detroit Pistons, Ellington converted on 42.2% of his 3-pointers, which is the second-best rate of his career throughout a whole season. With the constant 3-point shooting struggles L.A. dealt with last year, Ellington’s prowess should ameliorate those issues.

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