While we continue to wait for the new college basketball season to tip off, the NBA is officially underway with Opening Night taking place on Tuesday. As the New York Knicks raise their banner, the rest of the league will tip off on Wednesday night.
That includes some former North Carolina Tar Heels standouts. There are 13 former Tar Heels in the NBA to begin the season, and to make it easy, we put together a list of the players and where they are currently.
Here is a look at former UNC players on NBA rosters at the moment.
Caleb Wilson (Chicago Bulls)
Caleb Wilson is entering his first season in the NBA after he was selected No. 4 overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Henri Veesaar (Atlanta Hawks)
Henri Veesaar was selected in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. But
he suffered an injury early in training camp and is expected to miss the entire season.
Drake Powell (Brooklyn Nets)
A former five-star recruit, Drake Powell was taken No. 22 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by Brooklyn.
2025-26 stats: 6.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in 63 games, with 24 games started.
Caleb Love (Philadelphia 76ers)
Former North Carolina and Arizona standout Caleb Love is on a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Delaware Blue Coats.
2025-26 stats: 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in 49 games, with 1 games started.
Harrison Ingram (Utah Jazz)
Harrison Ingram was a second-round pick of the San Antonio Spurs in the 2024 NBA Draft. After two seasons there with limited playing time, he's now in Utah looking for a fresh start.
2025-26 stats: 1.6 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.1 assists per game in 7 games, with 0 games started.
Cormac Ryan (Milwaukee Brewers)
Guard Cormac Ryan spent one season at North Carolina but he was a huge pickup for that roster. After his time at Stanford, Notre Dame, and Carolina, he went undrafted and has spent time in the NBA and the G League. He's with the Milwaukee Bucks again this season.
2025-26 stats: 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in 11 games, with 2 games started.
Leaky Black (Sacramento Kings/Stockton Kings)
The former North Carolina forward went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft but signed a two-way deal with the Charlotte Hornets. He's been back-and-forth from the NBA to the G League and this year he's with the Sacramento Kings organization.
2025-26 stats: 7.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in 15 games, with 9 games started.
Pete Nance (Milwaukee Bucks)
Pete Nance spent just one season at North Carolina after transferring from Northwestern. He signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks just two days before the 2026-27 season.
2025-26 stats: 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in 47 games, with 6 games started.
Day'Ron Sharpe (Brooklyn Nets)
The former five-star recruit spent just one season at North Carolina from 2021 to 2022. He was drafted by the Phoenix Suns and then had his draft rights traded to Brooklyn. In Summer 2026, Sharpe re-signed with the Nets on a two-year, $20 million contract.
2025-26 stats: 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in 62 games, with 7 games started.
Cameron Johnson (Denver Nuggets)
After two seasons at North Carolina, Cameron Johnson was a lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, going to the Phoenix Suns at No. 11 overall. He was traded to Brooklyn and then before last season, he was traded to the Denver Nuggets where he will have a key role.
2025-26 stats: 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in 54 games, with 54 games started.
Coby White (Charlotte Hornets)
The former No. 7 overall pick by the Chicago Bulls was traded back home at last season's trade deadline, landing with the Charlotte Hornets. He earned a new deal in the offseason and is expected to be a key piece this season.
2025-26 stats: 17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in 50 games, with 26 games started.
Tony Bradley (Utah Jazz)
The center was one-and-done at North Carolina and has bounced around the league. But this season he's back with the team he got his start with, the Utah Jazz.
2025-26 stats: 4.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game in 41 games, with 4 games started.
Harrison Barnes (San Antonio Spurs)
The longest-tenured former Tar Heel in the NBA, Harrison Barnes is entering year 15. He's going into his third season with the Spurs and is hoping to get them back to the NBA Finals.
2025-26 stats: 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in 77 games, with 52 games started.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Former UNC basketball players in the NBA for 2026-27 season
