UNC STARS SHOW OUT:
R.J. Davis, Armando Bacot Lead Tar Heels’ Charge in NBA Summer League Spotlight
By Kendra Ellis | July 28, 2025
Under the bright lights of Las Vegas, two familiar faces from Chapel Hill reminded the basketball world why North Carolina remains one of the most revered pipelines to NBA talent. R.J. Davis and Armando Bacot—college legends in Carolina Blue—put on a show during the 2025 NBA Summer League, silencing doubters and reigniting interest from franchises hungry for poised, battle-tested players.
Davis, drafted 40th overall by the Utah Jazz in June, has been a revelation. The 6’0″ guard was labeled as undersized, but in Vegas, he played far larger than his frame—averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 assists, and shooting 44% from beyond the arc. He was fearless, navigating traffic with tight ball control, launching high-arcing threes with textbook form, and directing the Jazz’s offense like a veteran.
“He’s a floor general—plain and simple,” Jazz Summer League head coach Marcus Graves said. “His pace, poise, and perimeter shooting were among the best we saw from any rookie this summer.”
Davis’ breakout performance came in a thriller against the Clippers Summer squad, where he dropped 26 points—including a game-winning step-back three with 2.1 seconds left. The crowd roared, and so did social media, where Tar Heel Nation lit up in celebration.
While Davis wowed with finesse, Armando Bacot brought the muscle. Signed to a two-way contract by the Charlotte Hornets after going undrafted, Bacot arrived in Vegas with a chip on his shoulder and left with his name back in NBA conversations. The 6’11” big man averaged 13.4 points and 10.1 rebounds, collecting three double-doubles in five games.
“He’s built for pro paint play,” Hornets assistant GM Jeff Peterson said. “He screens hard, rebounds like a machine, and has become a surprisingly effective passer out of the post.”
Indeed, Bacot’s passing instincts have quietly emerged as a new weapon. His high-low chemistry with Charlotte’s 2024 first-rounder Trevon Brazile turned heads, especially in a game against the Nuggets, where Bacot tallied five assists—threading bounce passes through double-teams and zipping skip passes to corner shooters.
For two players who defined UNC’s recent run of success—setting records, making tournament runs, and becoming household names in college basketball—Summer League offered a proving ground. And they passed the test with flying Carolina Blue.
NBA veterans in attendance took notice. “Bacot’s got the size and smarts to stick,” said retired big man Al Horford. “And Davis? That kid’s got the heart of a closer.”
Now, the question becomes: What’s next?
Davis is likely to make Utah’s opening-night roster, potentially backing up Keyonte George while competing for meaningful minutes. Bacot, on the other hand, is expected to split time between the Greensboro Swarm and Hornets’ bench, but insiders suggest he could get regular-season burn if injuries or frontcourt fatigue hit Charlotte early.
Either way, UNC fans can rest easy: their stars didn’t just show up—they showed out.
And if Vegas was any preview, R.J. Davis and Armando Bacot are far from finished making their mark on basketball’s biggest stage.
Would you like a follow-up story on their regular-season debuts or scouting reports?
