From Cunningham to Carter, an incredible streak ends but not the life lessons from Dean Smith

Posted Jul 11, 2020
When Vince Carter retired from the NBA last month after 22 years with eight teams, the world’s premier basketball league was left with no players coached by Dean Smith. Hard to imagine. From Oct. 16, 1965, until March 11 of 2020, the NBA had always had at least one, and usually many, of his players. That 55-year span began with Billy Cunningham. (Bladen Journal)

Related: Basketball, Tar Heels in the NBA

Video: IC Reaction Podcast - Alexandros Samodurov Commits to UNC Basketball
UNC's 2026-27 basketball roster picked up a big addition as Greek forward Alexandros Samodurov committed to the Tar Heels on Saturday. The 6-foot-11 center is...
Sat May 30, 2026

Wayne Ellington ready for next step in coaching journey as Miami Heat summer league head coach
Wayne Ellington played for nine teams through 13 NBA seasons, but his short time with the Miami Heat left a lasting impression. That impression was...
Sat May 30, 2026

Terrence Brown Q&A: 'Winning is My Biggest Focus'
As a sophomore at Fairleigh Dickinson, Terrence Brown averaged 20.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. He parlayed that into a...
Fri May 29, 2026

Terrence Brown Officially Joins UNC Basketball Family
Terrence Brown, a senior guard from Minneapolis, is joining the University of North Carolina men's basketball team. Brown has scored 1,542 points in three seasons,...
Fri May 29, 2026