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Pair of former UNC basketball stars to open NBA Summer League play on same day
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- Pair of former UNC basketball stars to open NBA Summer League play on same day
Anticipation built throughout the week for this year's NBA Draft , with hundreds of prospects hoping to hear their names called. That anticipation continues into the weekend, after 59 draft picks and numerous free agent signings.
Drake Powell was the only former Tar Heel to hear his name called in the NBA Draft, with the Atlanta Hawks choosing him 22nd overall. The Brooklyn Nets owned Powell's draft rights, so Powell will play in the New York City suburbs instead.
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RJ Davis starred for Hubert Davis during five years at UNC, but he wasn't considered an NBA Draft prospect. Davis didn't have to wait long in finding an NBA home, though, with the storied Los Angeles Lakers signing him to a free agent deal.
The next stop for Powell, Davis and their fellow rookies is the NBA Summer League, which released its full slate of games on Friday . Powell and Davis won't play against each other, but the Nets and Lakers will both open against other opponents on July 10.
Powell and his new Brooklyn teammates will open their Summer League slate against the Oklahoma City Thunder , which won its first-ever NBA Championship earlier in June, at 2:30 p.m. on July 10. Two-and-a-half hours later, RJ and his new Laker teammates will face the Dallas Mavericks .
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There's a chance Powell and Davis face each other in the Summer League playoffs, which starts July 19, but they'll get golden opportunities to showcase their NBA skills in several regular season games.
RJ's collegiate career is more established than Powell's, with the former named ACC Player of the Year in 2024. Powell has everything an NBA roster covets, though: height, athleticism, lockdown defense , plus the ability to slam down thunderous dunks and drain 3-pointers at a high clip.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC's RJ Davis, Drake Powell to open NBA Summer League play on July 10
