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Theo Pinson is like a cat with nine lives.
We know it was at the end of the regular season, when his team’s playoff spot was already gone. And Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban ordered coach Jason Kidd to tank the last two games so they could move up one spot in the NBA Draft.
And while the likelihood is high that Luka Doncic has played his last game for the Mavs and Kidd may be fired, Pinson’s two starts after not getting off the bench for seven of Dallas’ prior eight games may have secured his place on the roster for another season. He would certainly win a popularity contest.
It appeared the beloved former Tar Heel was at the end of his five-year NBA career, but what he did in the last game has made him a fan favorite going into the off-season. The one-time leader in gyrations from the bench became only the fourth player in NBA history to have a triple-double with no turnovers.
In his 40 minutes, Pinson scored 23 points, including five 3-pointers, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished off 12 assists, with zero turnovers, in the Mavs’ 138-117 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs in a game that looked like his team needed more of Pinson’s career specialty – defense.
While Theo was somewhat of a prankster during his Carolina career, the flamboyant athlete who once crashed a post-game NCAA press conference without an invitation has had a life of basketball getting raves for his play. His bio since becoming a high school All-American is so diverse he recorded some career numbers that got him in the same sentences with far more-famous stars.
Among 12 UNC players to appear in two national championship games, Pinson also is one of three Tar Heels with 500 rebounds and 400 assists (the others being Ed Cota and Walter Davis, Hubert’s heralded uncle). He had an improving assist-to-turnover ratio that was 5-1 as a senior and a career 3.4-1.
Not a reputed shooter, Pinson made some big baskets and had as few big scoring games against N.C. State and Miami. He also had the driving dunk off a Kenny Williams steal that sealed Carolina’s 82-78 home victory over Duke.
In the 2018 ACC tournament semifinal win over the Blue Devils in Brooklyn, Theo had 8 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals for a team loaded with scorers Luke Maye, Joel Berry and Cameron Johnson.
With perhaps no UNC player to match Pinson’s diverse skills on the court and his personality and candor off the floor, if he gets another NBA season with Dallas or any other team, he will affirm that an all-around game is more than valuable to keep playing.
Featured image via Associated Press/Tony Gutierrez
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