Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Former Teammates Signed by Same NBA Team

By Jordan Falls

Mar 17, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) and forward Justin Jackson (44) on the bench during the second half against the Texas Southern Tigers in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) and forward Justin Jackson (44) on the bench during the second half against the Texas Southern Tigers in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former UNC Basketball players Theo Pinson and Justin Jackson were teammates in college, and now they are teaming up again at the next level.

Theo Pinson and Justin Jackson both entered the UNC basketball program in the same recruiting class in 2014. They spent three years together in Chapel Hill, with Jackson bolting for the NBA after his junior season while Pinson stayed in college for his senior year. Both were part of the 2016 Final Four run that ended in heartbreak and critical pieces in the redemption tour that ended with them cutting the nets down in Phoenix just a year later.

It’s been over five years since the two were Tar Heel teammates, and now they are expected to team up again this season.

The Mavericks announced on Friday afternoon that they were signing Pinson and Jackson for the upcoming season. Just last week, the duo was back in Chapel Hill and attended Live Action with Carolina Basketball, the annual event to tip off the college basketball season.

Pinson has spent his time in the league with three different franchises, most recently the last two seasons with the Mavericks. Moving between the G-League and the NBA team, Pinson did see action in 40 regular season games last season for Dallas, averaging 8.1 minutes per game.

This will be Jackson’s second stint with the Mavericks, his first since 2019-2020. After a strong start to his career with the Sacramento Kings, averaging over 20 minutes per game, he has jumped around playing for six different franchises, including the Celtics twice, just trying to find a niche on a team somewhere.

One thing is for sure: UNC basketball fans will enjoy watching Pinson and Jackson on the floor together this season for the Dallas Mavericks, rather it be in the G-League or the NBA.

Next. UNC Basketball: Day’Ron Sharpe stars in preseason finale. dark

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