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

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Breaking Down UNC Basketball's Deep Roster
UNC unveiled a deep, versatile basketball roster for the 2026-27 season. With international newcomers like Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov officially cleared, plus key returners...
Mon Aug 24, 2026

Video: TarHeel247 Podcast - How Angelo Brizzi Can Carve Out A Role In UNC's Backcourt
Andrew Jones and Jacob Turner from TarHeel247 discuss UNC transfer guard Angelo Brizzi, his role in this season's Tar Heel backcourt, offensive strengths, recent performances...
Mon Aug 24, 2026

UNC Basketball Roundup: Frontcourt Cleared, Non-Conf. Slate Set, UNC & Duke Battle For Top Recruit
It was a busy week for the UNC Basketball program. The roster questions that have hung over the Tar Heels this offseason finally got answers,...
Mon Aug 24, 2026

Michael Malone Embraces Significance of UNC vs. NC State Basketball Rivalry
Upon taking the basketball coaching job at North Carolina, Michael Malone researched the history between the Tar Heels and Wolfpack. He wanted a better understanding...
Mon Aug 24, 2026