The North Carolina men’s basketball program has served as a pipeline for future NBA players, producing 17 draft picks in the past 10 years — the third-highest mark among all Division I schools, behind Kentucky and Kansas.
There are currently 16 players on NBA rosters who played college basketball at UNC, including eight who won a national championship as a Tar Heel.
Many former UNC players have also gone on to claim an NBA title, including forwards Harrison Barnes and James Michael McAdoo — who both won championship rings with the Golden State Warriors during the 2014-15 season against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Daily Tar Heel has been keeping tabs on some of these former North Carolina stars and how their NBA careers have developed thus far.
Here is a look at five former Tar Heels and how they have performed so far this season for their respective teams.
Harrison Barnes
Small forward, Golden State Warriors
After missing 16 games with a high ankle sprain, small forward Harrison Barnes returned to the Golden State Warriors’ lineup on Jan. 4.
Entering Wednesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, he had played in each of the past five games, averaging 9.4 points and 23.4 minutes per game.
Barnes was averaging 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in his fourth NBA year.
Raymond Felton
Point guard, Dallas Mavericks
Injuries limited point guard Raymond Felton to 29 games last season, but in his second season with the Dallas Mavericks, he has played a vital role off the bench.
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Before Wednesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 11-year pro was averaging 9.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in 39 games. Felton was shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 34.3 percent on 3-pointers.
P.J. Hairston
Small forward, Charlotte Hornets
After starting only two games during his rookie season, Charlotte Hornets small forward P.J. Hairston has started all 34 games he has played in prior to Wednesday’s contest against the Atlanta Hawks.
In his second NBA season, Hairston was averaging 7.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game in his past 10 contests. He was shooting 37.7 percent from the field during the same stretch.
John Henson
Power forward, Milwaukee Bucks
In his fourth NBA season, power forward John Henson has continued serving as a defensive anchor off the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Entering Wednesday’s game against the Washington Wizards, the 6-foot-11, 229-pounder was averaging 7.6 points, three rebounds, two blocks, 1.2 assists and 0.2 steals in 17 minutes of action per game in his past five outings.
Ty Lawson
Point guard, Houston Rockets
Before Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff told the Houston Chronicle that point guard Ty Lawson would resume his role as a starter after serving a three-game suspension. The suspension was his second this season.
In his seventh NBA season, Lawson was averaging 6.4 points and 4.3 assists per game.
