Death of his uncle made UNC basketball opener emotional for Hubert Davis
Hubert Davis was all set to have a special house guest late last week.
“Uncle Walt” was coming.
That was Walter Davis. He was someone whose influence, as a basketball player, as a North Carolina basketball player, as a family member, as a man, had such an impact on Hubert Davis and his life.
When Hubert Davis was a kid, Walter Davis was playing for Dean Smith and the Tar Heels, winning ACC championships, playing for a national championship- – “Sweet D” they called No. 24 at Carolina. As Hubert grew older, Walter Davis was in the NBA, an all-star and still called “Sweet D.”
Hubert Davis went to UNC to play for Smith like “Uncle Walt.” He went on to the NBA. Now 53, he began his third season as the Tar Heels head coach Monday, UNC taking an 86-70 victory over Radford in the opener at the Smith Center.
It was a good win. For Davis, it was also an emotional one. “Uncle Walt” died last week while visiting family in Charlotte. Walter Davis was 69.
“I told the team that the reason that I’m here is because of Uncle Walt,” Davis said Monday after the game. “I don’t get a scholarship, I don’t get a chance to go here, without Uncle Walt being here. Because of that, everything significant in my life has happened here because of Uncle Walt.
“I told the team, ‘Uncle Walt has given me a number of gifts and that was one of the gifts he has given me. And you guys have been given a gift, as well. You’ve been given the gift of still being able to play and play it this uniform on and run out of the tunnel and play on that floor and play as a team. So what are you going to do with this gift?’
“The reason I want the best from them is because of the thing Uncle Walt has taught me throughout my entire life.”
When the Tar Heels reached the Final Four in 2022, Hubert Davis thought of his uncle. During tougher times last season, when the Heels lost games and missed the NCAA tournament, that “gift” from his uncle had to be reassuring – keep trying, keep striving, keep fighting the fight.
Walter Davis faced obstacles in his life, professionally and personally. Everyone does. Hubert Davis has.
Coach Davis said his father, Hubert, was at Monday’s game. He said Walter Davis’ oldest daughter and her family flew in from Denver.
The UNC players wore shooting shirts with “Davis” and “24” on them in warmups. A moment of silence was held in Walter Davis’ memory before the game.
“I saw a lot of family and friends,” Hubert Davis said. “It was just an emotional week.”
This story was originally published November 7, 2023 at 10:57 AM.
