Tag: Colby Jones

Kings’ Colby Jones put up a wild stat line on assignment in the G League

Kings rookie Colby Jones saw his first assignment in the G League and stuffed the stat sheet to lead Stockton to a win over Salt Lake City.

Sacramento Kings rookie Colby Jones had his first assignment in the G League on Tuesday, and he stuffed the stat sheet to lead the Stockton Kings to a dominating win over the Salt Lake City Stars.

Jones produced 16 points, nine assists, eight steals, six rebounds and one blocked shot in the 142-99 victory on the road. He finished 7-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range, in 29 minutes of action.

The 34th pick is one of eight players to record eight or more steals in a G League game over the last five years and the first since Jamaree Bouyea reached that mark on Nov. 10, 2022.

Jones has played sparingly for the Kings to start the year, logging six appearances. Outside of a three-game stretch to begin November, in which he played at least 12 minutes in each contest, Jones has been out of the rotation and has seen mostly mop-up duty.

The Kings moved to send him to Stockton once De’Aaron Fox returned from a five-game absence. They received some strong production from Keon Ellis once Fox went down, which also likely influenced Jones to go to the G League.

The team has liked what it has seen from Jones in the early going but doesn’t have consistent playing time for him at the moment. He can log minutes with Stockton and continue his transition to the NBA.

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Post-preseason NBA rookie power rankings: Wemby is an obvious No. 1, but it gets wild after that

It’s really hard to evaluate rookies this early in their professional careers! 

Let’s just get something out of the way: It’s really hard to evaluate rookies this early in their professional careers!

Players are still trying to find their role in the league and adjusting to the experience of playing against the toughest competition in the world. Coaches are still hoping to figure out the best to utilize these guys, many of whom are still very raw.

But we still wanted to have a baseline evaluation of the rookies we have seen so far, even if it might look a bit strange. Before you get too upset, though, let’s offer a quick reminder. Per ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, the NBA’s Rookie of the Year almost always goes to the first-year player who had the highest total combination of points, rebounds and assists per game.

During the preseason, that player was (obviously) Victor Wembanyama.

Our list doesn’t follow that model, but it may look a bit spicy due to some notable players being excluded. It is worth noting, though, that six of the 10 players we highlighted ranked in the top 10 among rookies in that very basic points/rebounds/assists formula.

Average it out to productivity per 36 minutes and then filter out everyone except for the 30 players who logged the most minutes and you will find eight of the following players.

Our rankings do, however, give more weight to scoring efficiency and turnovers. We also accounted for defensive metrics like blocks, steals and fouls. These are all important measures of impact on a basketball court.

You may be surprised to not find players like Miller or Henderson but both were still figuring out the kinks. That doesn’t mean they won’t get on here in the regular season once they find their rhythm. This is not predictive of their future success but rather an assessment of where they are at this moment.

But during preseason, for example, Henderson led all rookies in turnovers and personal fouls committed. Miller, meanwhile, had an effective field-goal percentage of below 40.0 percent (the league average was at 54.5 percent last season). It’s worth acknowledging, though, that they do have tougher roles on their teams than some of their competition.

Otherwise, here is how we would rank the upcoming rookies based on their play during the preseason:

Kings’ Mike Brown on Colby Jones: ‘I just love watching the kid compete’

Colby Jones turned in a strong run with the Kings this preseason and earned some praise from head coach Mike Brown.

Colby Jones turned in a strong run with the Sacramento Kings this preseason and earned praise from head coach Mike Brown following his latest performance.

Jones produced 19 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists on Thursday in a 116-113 win over the Utah Jazz. He went 7-of-13 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, in 24 minutes of work off the bench.

The 34th pick had his best outing of the preseason with the effort. He hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Kings complete the comeback and pick up the win.

Brown said he is making a strong case for a large role this season.

He was really good. I’m loving how he is making my job harder. I love it. Every time we’ve thrown him out there, he just keeps getting better and better. His demeanor is the same. We like to cut on our offense, and he has got to be the hardest cutter on our team. He doesn’t do it most times, he does it every freaking time. I just love watching the kid compete on both ends of the floor.

With several starters sitting, including De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray, Jones had the opportunity to log heavy minutes on Thursday. He saw time as the backup point guard and shooting guard throughout the game and looked comfortable in either role.

The opportunity to join a playoff contender and contribute immediately as a rookie is often rare. Jones will likely play sporadically this year in spot minutes, but the 21-year-old is embracing the challenge of earning his playing time.

“I’m just extremely blessed,” Jones said, via Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 in Sacramento. “That’s what I’m trying to do, so I’m glad (Coach) is having a tough time. I’m really just trying to come in and do whatever he says and impact the game on offense and defense.”

Jones finished the preseason averaging nine points, 1.8 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals in five games on 40.9% shooting from 3-point range. He scored in double figures twice, including a 10-point effort on Wednesday versus Golden State.

He was a full-time starter over three years in college at Xavier, so coming off of the bench will be a change for him. He is preparing himself to contribute in any role and is impressing Brown and the rest of the team in the early going.

“I’m just staying locked in at all times,” Jones said. “Obviously, in college, I didn’t come off the bench, so I’m just having to stay mentally focused for that. I feel like I’ve done a good job with that and want to keep it that way.”

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2023 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: 58 projections after the early entry withdrawal deadline

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the early entry withdrawal deadline.

The NBA pre-draft process crossed another important checkpoint on the schedule with the early entry withdrawal deadline coming and going this week.

Prospects had the opportunity to test the waters and meet with teams to gain feedback on their potential draft stock. To maintain their remaining college eligibility, they had to withdraw from consideration by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.

The deadline saw several potential second-round picks withdraw from the draft and return to school. With name, image and likeness playing a prevalent role in college basketball, players were likely swayed to stay one more year to work on their games and capitalize financially.

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The 2024 draft is also projected to be weaker than in past years, which also may have played a role in some players opting against turning pro. They likely believe they will have a greater chance of being a first-round pick next year.

With several players off the board, teams can prioritize workouts and interviews with those individuals remaining in the draft. As a result, players’ stock will continue to fluctuate with less than three weeks to go until the draft.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the early entry withdrawal deadline. Team needs were taken into consideration for these picks.

Xavier junior Colby Jones explains what he brings to the NBA

Jones was named to the All-Big East second team last season after averaging 15 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals.

Xavier junior Colby Jones emerged this past season as a great floor general, and it is that ability the potential first-round pick is looking to bring to the next level.

Jones, who was named to the All-Big East second team, averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals on 37.8% shooting from 3-point range. He ranked sixth in the conference in assists and third in minutes (1,223).

The 6-foot-6 guard dazzled at times with his vision and passing ability. He flourished as a scorer that can create for himself and others, and he should be able to step in and play right away.

He discussed what he can offer teams in the NBA.

I would say just being a connector on offense and my motor and my hustle. I feel like I make a lot of hustle plays and I feel like that translates regardless of where you play. Then, just being able to guard on defense and being a team defensive player.

Jones produced nine 20-point games and recorded a massive jump in 3-point shooting after converting just 29.2% as a sophomore. He is one of the more experienced players projected to be taken in the first round, and teams should love his maturity and unselfishness.

He was among the prospects that participated in the on-court testing and measurements at the draft combine last week in Chicago, Illinois. He just attended his first pre-draft workout with Portland on Monday and has Brooklyn on the schedule.

The NBA draft will take place on June 22.

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2023 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: The latest projections after the draft lottery

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the lottery.

The order of the 2023 NBA draft was decided this week by the lottery, and the San Antonio Spurs received the No. 1 pick for the third time in franchise history.

Of course, that means the Spurs will have the first opportunity to select 7-foot-4 French phenom Victor Wembanyama. They are apparently the team he had his sights set on, and he will now likely look to continue his basketball journey in San Antonio.

Elsewhere, Charlotte and Portland made jumps in their lottery positioning, and they now have more options to consider on draft night. Detroit dropped the furthest from No. 1 by virtue of having the worst record to No. 5.

With the order set, teams will ramp up their draft preparations.

This week, the league converged in Chicago for the G League Elite Camp and draft combine. Though many prospects skipped the 5-on-5 scrimmages and other testing, several seemingly helped themselves with great showings on the court.

Teams will continue to prioritize seeing those individuals that declared as early entrants since the deadline for them to return to school is May 31. Several prospects will have tough decisions to make in the coming days but should have more clarity after the combine.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the lottery. It is important to note that team needs were not necessarily taken into account with each pick. The projections are rather a look at where each individual player stands at this point of the process.

2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Projections for every pick post-March Madness

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the NCAA Tournament.

The NBA pre-draft process is in full swing as prospects around the world prepare to transition to the next level.

Teams around the league will begin hosting private workouts in the coming weeks as they finalize their draft boards. There will be various pro days on the radar and, of course, the draft combine and G League Elite Camp next month in Chicago, Illinois.

Underclassmen have until April 23 to declare for the draft. Several notable players have already decided to return to school, including Kyle Filipowski, Harrison Ingram, Baylor Scheierman and Kel’el Ware. Others are still mulling over their decisions.

Related: Key dates for NBA draft, combine, lottery and deadlines

With players still in the process of making decisions, some prospects were excluded from this mock draft because they are projected to return to school next season. However, most players projected to be drafted have already announced their decisions.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the NCAA Tournament. It is important to note that team needs were not necessarily taken into account with each pick. The projections are rather a look at where each individual player stands at this point of the process.

Note: The order of the draft was pulled from Tankathon as of April 14. The draft will have only 58 picks this year because the Bulls and 76ers were stripped of their second-round picks by the NBA due to tampering violations.

Brooklyn Nets projected to take Xavier’s Colby Jones in first round of 2023 NBA Draft

With a look to 2023, the Brooklyn Nets could take Xavier’s Colby Jones in the first round.

The Brooklyn Nets are projected to take Xavier guard Colby Jones in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, according to an article published by Cody Taylor of Rookie Wire on Friday. As of the writing of the article, the Nets were projected to have the #24 overall pick via the Philadelphia 76ers that came as a result of trading James Harden to Philadelphia last season.

Jones, a junior, is averaging 14.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 51.9% from the field and 44.7% from behind the three-point line. He has shown the ability to run an offense and also to be able to contribute to his team with more than just passing the ball.

Xavier has a 14-3 record (6-0 in the Big East Conference) and is ranked as the 12th-best team in the country according to the Associated Press poll. Here’s what Taylor had to say about Jones and why the Nets are projected to select him:

“Jones is another player that has put himself on teams’ radars with a strong first half of the season. He is averaging 14.4 points, 5.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 16 games on 44.7% shooting from the field. He has established himself as one of the top floor generals in the country with his vision and passing ability. He can also create for himself on offense and get into the paint. As a junior, Jones is one of the more experienced players likely to be taken in the first round and teams should love his maturity and unselfishness.”

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2023 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Wembanyama, Henderson on top; Freshmen rising in latest projections

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands at the midway point of the season.

The 2022-23 basketball season is in full swing as the next wave of prospects across the college level and the professional ranks look ahead to the 2023 NBA draft on June 22.

Of course, Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson remain at the top of draft boards at the start of the new year. Both could shut down their seasons right now and still be viewed as the best two players in the class. In other words: They are locked in at Nos. 1 and 2.

Elsewhere, though, fortunes change seemingly nightly.

Several prospects have improved upon their preseason rankings, while others have struggled and had their stock fall. The latest look at the class even has several freshmen on the rise after some impressive performances through the first half of the year.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the first round stands at the midway point of the season. It is important to note that team needs were not necessarily taken into account with each pick. The projections are rather a look at where each individual player stands at this point of the process.

Note: The order of the draft was pulled from Tankathon as of Jan. 10. The draft will have only 58 picks this year because the Bulls and Sixers were stripped of their second-round picks by the NBA due to tampering violations.