UNC NBA Players Who Made It Big
Contents
- UNC Players Who Made It Big In The NBA
- From The Tar Heels To The Pros
- How These UNC Players Made It To The NBA
- A Look At The Career Paths Of These NBA Stars
- What These UNC Players Are Doing Now
- How Their Time At UNC Helped Them In The NBA
- The Impact These Players Had On UNC Basketball
- What The Future Holds For These NBA Stars
- How These Players Will Be Remembered
- UNC’s NBA Legacy
Many UNC alumni have gone on to have successful NBA careers. Here are some of the most successful UNC NBA players who made it big.
UNC Players Who Made It Big In The NBA
In recent years the University of North Carolina has been turning out some big names in the NBA. Some of these players have gone on to become All-Stars, while others have become key role players for their respective teams. Here is a list of some of the biggest names to come out of UNC in recent years
-Jimmy Butler
-Kemba Walker
– Marvin Williams
– Reggie Bullock
From The Tar Heels To The Pros
From The Tar Heels To The Pros, these UNC NBA players made it big. Kris Dunn, Marvin Williams John Henson and Harrison Barnes are just a few of the UNC alums who have gone on to have successful NBA careers
How These UNC Players Made It To The NBA
In order to make it to the NBA, players have to stand out among the best in the country. They have to have excelled at lower levels and shown they can play with and against the best. And they need some luck along the way, too.
Here are some examples of how some UNC Basketball players made it to the NBA.
George Karl was a two-time All-American at UNC before being drafted in the second round of the 1973 NBA draft by the New York Knicks He played five seasons in the NBA, averaging 10.1 points per game
Ralph Sampson was a three-time All-American at UNC before being drafted first overall by the Houston Rockets in the 1983 NBA Draft He went on to have a Hall of Fame career, averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds per game over his 13 seasons in the NBA.
Michael Jordan is perhaps the most famous UNC player of all time. He was drafted third overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA Draft and went on to have a legendary career, winning six championships with the Bulls while becoming one of the greatest players of all time.
A Look At The Career Paths Of These NBA Stars
It’s no secret that the University of North Carolina has produced some of the best basketball players in the country. From Michael Jordan to Jerry Stackhouse the list of Tar Heel greats is long and impressive.
But what happens to those players after they leave Chapel Hill? Do they go on to have Successful NBA careers?
We took a look at the career paths of some of UNC’s most famous NBA players to see what happened after they left school.
Michael Jordan is, of course, the most famous Tar Heel to make it big in the NBA. After being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984, Jordan went on to have one of the most successful careers in Basketball History He won six NBA titles with the Bulls, was named MVP five times, and is widely considered to be the greatest player of all time.
Jerry Stackhouse was another UNC star who enjoyed a long and successful NBA Career He was drafted 3rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1995 and went on to play for several different teams over his 18-year career. He was a two-time All-Star and retired in 2013 as one of only seven players in NBA history to score more than 18,000 points and dish out more than 4,000 assists.
Other UNC players who had successful NBA careers include Vince Carter Antawn Jamison, Rasheed Wallace, and Raymond Felton
What These UNC Players Are Doing Now
Since the beginning of the NBA, University of North Carolina has sent 96 players to the league. Out of those 96, 33 have made an All-Star team 10 have won an MVP, and 12 have won a championship. The UNC Tar Heels have also had five former players inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In recent years some of the most notable UNC Tar Heels in the NBA have been Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock, Tyler Hansbrough, Kenny Smith and Marvin Williams. Although each player has had different levels of success in their NBA careers thus far, they are all still doing big things on and off the court.
Harrison Barnes was drafted 7th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2012. He spent four seasons with the Warriors before he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2016. In Dallas, Barnes became one of the Mavericks’ Key Players and helped them make it to the playoffs in 2018. Harrison Barnes is currently signed with the Sacramento Kings
Reggie Bullock was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 25th pick in 2013 but was later traded to the Phoenix Suns He only played eight games for the Suns before he was waived. Bullock then signed with the Detroit Pistons where he played for four seasons until 2017. In 2019, Reggie Bullock joined his current team, the New York Knicks
Tyler Hansbrough was drafted 13th overall by Indiana Pacers in 2009. He played for four different teams throughout his NBA career including; Indiana Pacers (2009-2012), Toronto Raptors (2012-2013), Charlotte Bobcats (2013-2014), and Atlanta Hawks (2014). Tyler Hansbrough’s most recent stint in Professional Basketball came overseas when he played for SQLVpei Fubon Braves in Taiwan during 2015-2016 season.
Kenny Smith was drafted 6th overall by Sacramento Kings in 1987 after a very successful college career at UNC where he was nicknamed “The Jet” for his lightning quick first step. Smith went on to play eleven seasons in NBA winning two championships with Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995 while being voted one of league’s top sixth men ever. After his retirement from playing basketball professionally, Smith became popular basketball analyst and television personality working for TNT’s highly acclaimed Inside The NBA show alongside fellow former NBA players Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal which is considered one of best sports shows ever conceptually .
Marvin Williams was lottery pick straight out from college as he was selected 2nd overall by Atlanta Hawks in 2005 only behind Andrew Bogut who went first to Milwaukee Bucks that same year . Williams had long and successful NBA career playing for five teams starting from Atlanta Hawks (2005-2012) then moving on Charlotte Hornets (2012-2015), Utah Jazz (2015-2016) , Charlotte Hornets again (2016-2018) until he finally found his home back with Atlanta Hawks again where he is still currently playing as starting Power Forward and team captain .
How Their Time At UNC Helped Them In The NBA
There have been many Great players who have come out of the University of North Carolina and gone on to have successful careers in the NBA. Some of these players have become superstars, while others have been key role players on championship teams. But what is it about UNC that has helped these players so much in their transition to the NBA?
One big factor is the competition they faced while at UNC. The Tar Heels always seem to be one of the top teams in the country, meaning that their players are used to playing against the best of the best. This helps them immensely when they get to the NBA, where they are often matched up against the best players in the world.
Another factor is UNC’s style of play. The Tar Heels typically play an uptempo style of basketball, which suits many NBA players well. They are used to playing fast and making quick decisions on the court, which is often a big adjustment for college players coming into the league.
Finally, UNC has a great Coaching Staff that has helped many players reach their potential. Roy Williams is one of the best coaches in college basketball and he has a great track record with preparing players for the NBA. Many UNC alums have spoken about how Williams’ coaching made them better players and better people, and that has helped them succeed at the next level.
The Impact These Players Had On UNC Basketball
UNC has produced some of the greatest basketball players of all time. From Michael Jordan to Tyler Hansbrough, these players have made a huge impact on the program and the game of basketball itself. Let’s take a look at some of the most successful UNC NBA players
Michael Jordan is undoubtedly the greatest player in UNC history. He is also widely considered to be the greatest player of all time. Jordan led UNC to a National Championship in 1982 and was named NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player. He went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bulls winning six NBA championships and five MVP Awards
Tyler Hansbrough is one of the most decorated players in UNC history. He was a four-time All-American and won a National Championship in 2009. Hansbrough also holds the record for most points in a season by a UNC player. He was drafted 13th overall by the Indiana Pacers in 2009 and had a successful career, averaging 7.5 points per game over his nine-year career.
Other notable UNC NBA players include Vince Carter Jerry Stackhouse, and Rasheed Wallace. Carter was drafted 5th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 1998 and went on to have a successful 21-year career. He is currently 18th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 25,728 points. Stackhouse was drafted 3rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1995 and played 18 seasons in the NBA, averaging 17.4 points per game Wallace was drafted 4th overall by the Washington Bullets in 1995 and played 19 seasons in the NBA, winning an NBA Championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
What The Future Holds For These NBA Stars
These NBA Stars have had a great start to their careers, but what does the future hold for them? With their talent and determination, they are sure to continue to be successful in the NBA.
How These Players Will Be Remembered
It’s been a banner year for the NBA, with plenty of memorable moments and breakout stars. But as the season comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to look back at some of the UNC players who made it big in the league. From established veterans to rookies, these Tar Heels have left their mark on the NBA.
Jimmy Butler: A true two-way player Jimmy Butler has been one of the best players in the NBA this season His status as a superstar was cemented with his performance in the All-Star game where he won MVP honors. He’s also one of the league’s best defenders, and he’s shown that he can score when needed. With another strong season, Butler has solidified his place among the best players in UNC history.
Harrison Barnes: Harrison Barnes had a quietly excellent season for the Dallas Mavericks He averaged 19 points per game while shooting over 45% from three-point range He was also a key part of their playoff push, helping them earn the seventh seed in the Western Conference In Barnes, UNC has another player who can score and shoot at a high level.
Kemba Walker: Kemba Walker had a career year for the Charlotte Hornets averaging 22 points and 5 assists per game He was also named an All-Star for the first time in his career. Walker is one of UNC’s most successful players in recent years, and he looks like he’ll only get better with time.
UNC’s NBA Legacy
UNC has produced some of the Greatest NBA Players of all time. From Michael Jordan to James Worthy UNC has a legacy of producing top-tier talent. Here are some of the greatest UNC players to ever make it to the NBA.