Following a rookie season in which he earned All-NBA G League Rookie Team honors, many expected that former Tar Heel RJ Davis would suit up for the Los Angeles Lakers in this year's NBA Summer League action.
However, a major bombshell was revealed, as Davis won't be playing for the franchise he competed for this past season.
Instead, the second all-time leading scorer in UNC basketball history will be joining forces with the defending Western Conference champions.
RJ Davis to play for the San Antonio Spurs in 2026 NBA Summer League action
The Spurs, fresh of their NBA Finals loss to the New York Knicks, revealed their roster for the upcoming NBA Summer League. Davis was one of the big surprises to see on their roster, given that many assumed he would stick with the Lakers at least throughout the summer before exploring potential options elsewhere (if necessary).
Your 2026 Summer Spurs ☀️🏀@Ledger | #PorVida pic.twitter.com/mkCdzcG4mZ
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) June 30, 2026
The reason this is surprising is due to how well Davis played for the South Bay Lakers in his rookie season in the pros.
Davis appeared in 36 regular-season contests (31 starts), averaging 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 29.2 minutes while shooting 45.9% from three-point range. He also played in 13 Tip-Off Tournament games (10 starts), averaging 18.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 30.6 minutes. For his overall efforts, the former Tar Heel was selected to participate in the NBA G League Next Up Game during NBA All-Star Weekend.
His scoring output won't surprise any Tar Heel fans, given they grew accustomed to seeing him score in double figures essentially every time he took the floor as a member of the UNC basketball program. The now-24-year-old scored in double figures in 38 games, 24 of which he scored 20 or more points. Not only did he score the basketball well, but he also did a little bit of everything for his team, recording a pair of double-doubles and a triple-double performance.
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Davis' knock has always been his size. Given the current landscape of the NBA, we're seeing undersized guards start to thrive again, as evident to what Jalen Brunson was able to do this postseason with the Knicks. At this point, you have to wonder why Davis isn't getting more love from NBA teams, especially the franchise that watched hil ball out throughout his entire rookie season.
Now, Davis will continue to bet on himself, taking on this opportunity with the Spurs in an effort to find his way onto an NBA squad. While he might not possess the ideal height that teams are looking for, he sure does offer everything else: scoring ability from all three levels, playmaking skills that get his teammates involved, and the ability to rebound the basketball at a very high level for a guard.
While we all sit here trying to figure out what more can RJ Davis do to earn his opportunity with a big league team, the former Tar Heel will simply continue to do what he does best: ball out on the court.
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