UNC in the NBA: Reggie Bullock blossoming in expanded role

Reggie Bullock has finally found his groove in his fifth NBA season.

In took five years to get to where he is today, but Reggie Bullock has finally made his way into the NBA spotlight.

Bullock left UNC after putting up the best statistics of his career in 2013. The junior averaged 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and won Roy’s defensive player of the game 4 times.

The Kinston, North Carolina native did most of his damage from behind the arc; Bullock netted 88 threes at a blistering 43.6% in his final season at Chapel Hill.

His sweet stroke and lockdown defense garnered enough attention for the Clippers to select him 25th overall in the 2013 NBA draft. However, despite being a first-round pick, Bullock would never gain the trust of the franchise that drafted him.

After being traded for peanuts twice in sixth months, the former Heel found himself on the Detroit Pistons in 2015. Despite a plague of injuries, the Pistons never lost faith.

Bullock became a regular starter on December 12th against the Denver Nuggets and has flourished in an expanded role. The 26-year-old shooting guard is averaging 12.5 points in the 30 games since he became a starter.

He has also reclaimed his three-point shooting prowess, Bullock is shooting an astounding 48.9% from behind the arc since becoming a starter. That number would easily lead the NBA for the whole season.

Here’s the stroke that filled many a bucket in the Dean Dome:

In his first full month of action in February, Bullock poured in 29 threes while shooting 51.6%.

His ability to put the ball in the basket at a high clip has been remarkable this season and he is showing no signs of slowing down.

To put this in perspective, check out the chart below:

Bullock is second in the entire NBA in terms of offensive efficiency for qualified players. Not too bad for a guy who is on a 2.5 million dollar salary this year and the next.

What makes the Tar Heel great really stand out is his defensive play. Bullock has been well-known for defensive play dating back to his days at Chapel Hill.

Measuring 6-foot-7 and weighing in at 205-pounds, he is an ideal size to guard NBA shooting guards. In an era where 3-and-D players are becoming highly sought after, Bullock is quickly establishing himself as one of the better options in the league.

Bullock’s career is following a similar path to fellow Tar Heel Danny Green.

The 2009 national champion floated around the league before finally settling down with the San Antonio Spurs. With the Spurs, Green has become one of the leagues best three-point shooters and perimeter defenders.

Green’s play earned him a 4-year, $40 million dollar contract, a contract Bullock’s agents will probably bring up in talks when his own expires. A longterm contract would give Bullock the assurance of knowing where his next paycheck is coming from, something he hasn’t had thus far in his career.

The rise of Reggie Bullock has been fun to watch and it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving player. Bullock has overcome injuries, trades, and stints in the D-League to make it where he is today.

Next: Nassir Little projected as a lottery pick in 2019 NBA Draft

The road wasn’t easy, but he’s just begun to scratch the surface of a blossoming NBA career.