LA Clippers’ North Carolina Ties: The Duke and UNC Rivalry

Brice Johnson, UNC 2012 – 2016

The newest product from the rivalry, Brice Johnson is just in his first season in the NBA. The UNC standout had quite a career in Chapel Hill. He finished as a Naismith Award and Wooden Award finalist and averaged almost 12 points a game. He was also unanimously selected as an All-American and broke the UNC record for most rebounds in a season.

JOIN: Take on Brice Johnson and Clipperholics in Bracket Challenge

Brice Johnson, unlike the others that have been listed, has a unique relationship with Duke. His girlfriend, Faith Suggs, is a forward on Duke’s women’s basketball team. Dating a rival has to get you some flack from UNC faithful, but the couple sees past the rivalry.

"Before the Heels’ showdown with Maryland in December (2016), Johnson even convinced her to wear a Carolina T-shirt to the game. “I’ll probably never wear Carolina blue ever again,” said Suggs, who is still working on getting Johnson into a Duke shirt at her games. He said he’d probably do it — but probably not until after he graduates from UNC."

Johnson, last season, helped the Tar Heel secure the ACC regular season championship with a monster game against the Blue Devils in Durham. He was selected in the second round by the Clippers in the 2016 draft.