University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels In The NBA: Nov. 5
November 5, 2014 | Men's Basketball
NOTE: This article originally appeared in the November 4 issue of CAROLINA, the official magazine of Tar Heel athletics.
CHAPEL HILL—There are seventeen former University of North Carolina players on NBA opening day rosters for the 2014-15 season, and now that the season is a week old it's time to check in and see how those Tar Heels are doing this season.
GoHeels.com and CAROLINA, the official magazine of UNC Athletics, will keep Tar Heel fans up to date throughout the 2014-15 NBA season.
Warriors pick up option on Harrison Barnes
Harrison Barnes has had a nice start to his professional career with the Golden State Warriors, and many NBA experts are expecting Barnes to take a step forward in his third year in the league. The Warriors believe in the former Tar Heel as well, as the team exercised his fourth-year option to keep him in the Bay Area for at least one more season. So far this season, Barnes is averaging nine points and four rebounds per game. Click here to see a Barnes dunk from Saturday night.
P.J. Hairston looks for fresh start
P.J. Hairston's time as a Tar Heel ended in a messy way, but Hairston has worked hard to start over and leave his indiscretions behind him. The Greensboro native was selected with the 26th pick of the NBA draft and then traded to the Charlotte Hornets this summer. Now in the next chapter of his basketball career, Hairston is looking for a fresh start in the Queen City. Brett Jensen of FOX Sports Carolina has more. Hairston scored his first NBA points this week.
Zeller and Rondo form lethal combo
The pick and roll is a staple of many offenses across the NBA, especially for teams that have elite point guards like the Celtics do with Rajon Rondo. Now Tyler Zeller, who was traded to Boston during the offseason, gets to be the beneficiary of Rondo's passing ability. In the team's win over the Brooklyn Nets last week, Zeller found himself so open in the paint that he couldn't believe it, writes Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe.
Ed Davis is a bright spot for Lakers
It's a widely understood fact that the Los Angeles Lakers just aren't a very good basketball team this season. Riddled with injuries and an aging roster, the Lakers don't have much to look forward to this season. But Ed Davis has been one positive for the team as he is averaging 12 points and 6.8 rebounds through five games. Eric Pincus of the LA Times has more on Davis.
