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

North Carolina Basketball Odds & Ends
Henri Veesaar's family and friends in Estonia are glued to their TVs watching him play basketball at North Carolina. "They're eight hours ahead, so maybe...
Wed Dec 10, 2025

Luka Bogavac Adjusting Well, Helping Prove Value of Overseas Recruiting for UNC Basketball
Hubert Davis' wife, Leslie, bakes Luka Bogavac a batch of brownies before every game. The Montenegrin native claimed he didn’t like sweets when he arrived...
Tue Dec 9, 2025

Caleb Wilson explains how he’s learning to deal with double teams better
Caleb Wilson knew what was coming, and he met it with poise. Georgetown swarmed him with second defenders, shaded help when he got the ball,...
Tue Dec 9, 2025

UNC Basketball stats Hubert Davis likes, and one he wants to see improved
There are a number of statistical goals UNC Basketball wants to reach this season. Hubert Davis pointed out a few on Monday during the season’s...
Tue Dec 9, 2025