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UNC in the NBA: Tony Bradley recalled by Utah Jazz

By Blake Cockrum

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally altered) Tony Bradley of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally altered) Tony Bradley of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Rookie big man returns from short stint in G-League

After a short stint in the NBA G-League, rookie center Tony Bradley has been recalled by the Utah Jazz.

The team announced last Friday that it had sent the former Tar Heel to the organization’s G-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars. The move came just two weeks into the 2017-18 season, after Bradley was unable to make his way onto the court in any of the team’s first five games.

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And although no player wants to make the move from the NBA to the G-League, Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said it had less to do with Bradley’s performance, and more about getting him some more playing time.

"“Tony’s looked good in a lot of stuff that’s he’s doing,” Snyder said. “Rudy (Gobert) went to the D-League (now G-League) when he was a rookie. There’s nothing attached to that other than the fact that we want to get (Bradley) minutes. We feel good about the way he’s been playing in practice and when he did play in the preseason, too, so it’s good.”"

In four preseason games, the 6-foot-10, 250-pound big man averaged four points and 1.5 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. His best performance came in the team’s final preseason tilt with the Phoenix Suns in which he scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed two rebounds in 16 minutes of play.

Bradley performed well in the Las Vegas Summer League when he averaged 10.6 points, and 6.6 rebounds per game. He connected on better than 52 percent of his shots, showing the same kind of efficiency he did during his lone season at the University of North Carolina.

After a solid performance for the Tar Heels during their championship run last season, Bradley left school and entered his name into the 2017 NBA Draft. The Jazz made Bradley a first round draft pick, selecting him 28th overall.

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The Jazz are back in action on Wednesday night when they face off against the Portland Trailblazers at home, and Bradley will look to make his way onto the court for the first time as a professional.

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