All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Champ Out of NBA, Settles for Contract Overseas

Former UNC basketball big man Ed Davis is taking his talents to China.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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It's unlikely Ed Davis will return to the NBA. But the 34-year-old UNC basketball product isn't altogether retiring just yet.

No, per a report from Sportando, Davis reached an agreement this week to play for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association. Last season, the 6-foot-9, 220-pound big man averaged a double-double in his first year with the Guaynabo Mets in Puerto Rico.

He hasn't been on an NBA roster since tallying only 28 points and 64 rebounds across 31 games as an end-of-bench reserve for the 2021-22 Cleveland Cavaliers.

But for his career in the league, spanning 12 years with eight different franchises, the former lottery pick averaged 5.9 points and 6.4 boards, totaling 722 appearances in regular season games.

His most productive campaign as a pro came with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014-15. He drew starts in 24 of the 79 games he played that season on his way to averaging 7.6 rebounds and a career-high 8.3 points, albeit for a squad that finished with only 21 wins.

Ed Davis went No. 13 overall to the Toronto Raptors at the 2010 NBA Draft (the only UNC basketball talent to come off the board that year) following his two seasons with the Tar Heels.

As a freshman in Chapel Hill, Davis saw action in all 38 games for the eventual 2009 UNC basketball national champions, averaging 6.7 points and 6.6 rebounds as an invaluable backup to Tyler Hansbrough and Deon Thompson in the post.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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