The L.A. Lakers and their North Carolina connections

Posted Oct 25, 2018
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has ties to North Carolina besides his recent speaking engagement in Greensboro. His mother was born in Anson County, and he said the toughest player he ever faced was UNC great Bob McAdoo. Other Lakers had N.C. ties. James Worthy is a Gastonia native. Mitch Kupchak also played for the Tar Heels, and Magic Johnson's mom is from Tarboro. (Greensboro News & Record)

Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting

Caleb Wilson speaks to reporters for first time since season-ending injury
Caleb Wilson, who has missed UNC's last eight basketball games, was asked how he was feeling following the Tar Heels' ACC Tournament loss to Clemson...
Fri Mar 13, 2026

UNC players proud of fight in ACC Tournament, wish desperation had come earlier
For most of Thursday night, North Carolina looked out of sync. "I’m proud of our guys for fighting, but we shouldn’t have been in that...
Fri Mar 13, 2026

Chansky’s Notebook: One-and-Done in Charlotte
In UNC's four previous trips to the ACC Tournament under coach Hubert Davis, the Tar Heels hadn’t claimed a conference championship, but they had never...
Fri Mar 13, 2026

Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe to have season-ending surgery
Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe will miss the rest of the season because of a torn ligament in his left thumb after playing in 62...
Fri Mar 13, 2026