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Former UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis is in Las Vegas to watch several former Tar Heels participate in the NBA Summer League, including Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson.
Davis, along with former UNC player and assistant coach Jeff Lebo, were on the baseline for Wilson’s second summer league game with the Bulls vs. the Utah Jazz on Monday, July 13, at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. Davis was also in Brooklyn, N.Y., to watch the Bulls select Wilson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“It was such a blessing and honor to be there to watch him get drafted. Caleb and I have known each other such a long time,” Davis said during the second quarter of Chicago’s game vs. Utah on ESPN’s broadcast.
“I’ve never, out of all the players I’ve been around, I’ve never been around somebody that is as good as a basketball player, but just as good as a person and as a teammate. I’m just so happy for him.”
UNIQUE STAR: Caleb Wilson the star of UNC basketball show entering Tar Heels' season premiere
WILSON'S GAME: What UNC basketball’s Caleb Wilson brings to Chicago Bulls
Wilson, who averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in his one-and-done season with Davis and the Tar Heels, had 35 points in his summer league debut vs. the Memphis Grizzlies. He made seven 3-pointers, matching his total through 24 games in Chapel Hill.
Focused on getting up 2,000 to 2,500 shots a day since becoming a pro, Wilson has clearly made perimeter shooting one of his focuses ahead of his rookie season.
“People are making a big deal – and they should – that he made seven 3s in his first preseason game,” Davis said. “This is a guy that, before and after practice, in the mornings, late at night, he’d always be in the gym working on his shot.”
But Davis also highlighted the fact that Wilson led the nation with 66 dunks through 24 games before an injury on Feb. 10, “so he didn’t need to shoot the 3” at UNC. "He could get to the basket any time that he wanted to,” Davis said, “but it’s fun being out here and just supporting him.”
As he did throughout last season, Davis reiterated that Wilson is “tremendously gifted” with a work ethic and “ability to lead others” as an “unbelievable teammate.” Davis doesn’t expect that personality to change at the next level.
“His passion to be out there on the floor … I got to see it every day in practice and in the games,” Davis said. “But just his joy to be able to play basketball, it’s infectious and I’m looking forward to what he does in Chicago.”
But Davis isn’t in Las Vegas just to watch Wilson. There are several other Tar Heels playing in the summer league, including former standouts RJ Davis and Henri Veesaar.
“We’ve got eight UNC guys that I’ve coached. It’s really important to me. Relationships is the biggest part for me,” Davis said.
“I always tell ‘em I can’t coach ‘em unless I know ‘em and they can’t play for me unless they know me. Just being out here to give ‘em a hug and tell them how proud I am of it, it brings so much joy to my hear to see them out there on the floor.”
Davis was fired after five seasons at UNC, where he finished with a 125-24 record. He led the Tar Heels to the 2022 Final Four and a national championship appearance in his debut season, along with a Sweet 16 appearance and ACC regular-season championship in 2024. Michael Malone was hired on April 6 to take over as head coach of the Tar Heels.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What Hubert Davis said about Caleb Wilson at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas
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Davis, along with former UNC player and assistant coach Jeff Lebo, were on the baseline for Wilson’s second summer league game with the Bulls vs. the Utah Jazz on Monday, July 13, at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. Davis was also in Brooklyn, N.Y., to watch the Bulls select Wilson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“It was such a blessing and honor to be there to watch him get drafted. Caleb and I have known each other such a long time,” Davis said during the second quarter of Chicago’s game vs. Utah on ESPN’s broadcast.
“I’ve never, out of all the players I’ve been around, I’ve never been around somebody that is as good as a basketball player, but just as good as a person and as a teammate. I’m just so happy for him.”
UNIQUE STAR: Caleb Wilson the star of UNC basketball show entering Tar Heels' season premiere
WILSON'S GAME: What UNC basketball’s Caleb Wilson brings to Chicago Bulls
Wilson, who averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in his one-and-done season with Davis and the Tar Heels, had 35 points in his summer league debut vs. the Memphis Grizzlies. He made seven 3-pointers, matching his total through 24 games in Chapel Hill.
Focused on getting up 2,000 to 2,500 shots a day since becoming a pro, Wilson has clearly made perimeter shooting one of his focuses ahead of his rookie season.
“People are making a big deal – and they should – that he made seven 3s in his first preseason game,” Davis said. “This is a guy that, before and after practice, in the mornings, late at night, he’d always be in the gym working on his shot.”
But Davis also highlighted the fact that Wilson led the nation with 66 dunks through 24 games before an injury on Feb. 10, “so he didn’t need to shoot the 3” at UNC. "He could get to the basket any time that he wanted to,” Davis said, “but it’s fun being out here and just supporting him.”
As he did throughout last season, Davis reiterated that Wilson is “tremendously gifted” with a work ethic and “ability to lead others” as an “unbelievable teammate.” Davis doesn’t expect that personality to change at the next level.
“His passion to be out there on the floor … I got to see it every day in practice and in the games,” Davis said. “But just his joy to be able to play basketball, it’s infectious and I’m looking forward to what he does in Chicago.”
But Davis isn’t in Las Vegas just to watch Wilson. There are several other Tar Heels playing in the summer league, including former standouts RJ Davis and Henri Veesaar.
“We’ve got eight UNC guys that I’ve coached. It’s really important to me. Relationships is the biggest part for me,” Davis said.
“I always tell ‘em I can’t coach ‘em unless I know ‘em and they can’t play for me unless they know me. Just being out here to give ‘em a hug and tell them how proud I am of it, it brings so much joy to my hear to see them out there on the floor.”
Davis was fired after five seasons at UNC, where he finished with a 125-24 record. He led the Tar Heels to the 2022 Final Four and a national championship appearance in his debut season, along with a Sweet 16 appearance and ACC regular-season championship in 2024. Michael Malone was hired on April 6 to take over as head coach of the Tar Heels.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What Hubert Davis said about Caleb Wilson at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas
Continue reading...
