At the 6:48 mark of the first quarter of Thursday’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers, a video tribute was played at
American Airlines Center in honor of Derrick Jones Jr.
Jones played last season for the Mavs and was instrumental in them reaching the NBA Finals. But after his one-year stay in Dallas, Jones signed a three-year, $30 million free-agent contract with the Clippers. He was back in Dallas on Thursday for the first time this season.
“Derrick was a big part of our success last year,” coach Jason Kidd said. “He made us a little bit more athletic, he could guard one-through-five, he shot the three well for us, and he’s a pro.
“He comes to work every day and does his job. We’re happy for his new contract. Unfortunately, he’s on the other side, but the Clippers got a pro.”
On leaving the Mavs after just one season, Jones told Mavs.com: “It was, I wouldn’t say, difficult, but it was just different. At the end of the day. I’m happy where I’m at. My family is loving it up there (in Los Angeles). I just got my crib, so it’s all smooth for me.”
With the Clippers this season, Jones is averaging a career-high 10 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and a career-high 41.7 percent from three-point land. He scored eight points on 3-of-4 shots in 20 minutes during the Clippers’ 118-95 win over the Mavs on Thursday.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said Jones has had “a lot of impact” on his team.
“We all know defensively that’s where he stands out,” Lue said. “But he’s got a career year in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, minutes played – a lot of different things. He’s taken a huge step forward.
“Just having him on the team, he does whatever we ask him to do, is willing to do anything, willing to guard the best player every night. He’s been great. He’s one of my favorite guys.”
A 6-6 forward who defies gravity with his leaping skills, Jones was well loved by his Mavs’ teammates and coaches, and also by the fans.
“I’ve always been a big fan,” Kidd said. “Giving him a chance, I think that was one of the things you could see in his past stops at Portland and Chicago and Phoenix.
“He’s a basketball player. We were lucky to have him, and he helped us on both sides of the ball. He causes a problem defensively with his length, and he fits with what the Clippers ar
e trying to do on both sides of the ball.”
Since the Clippers will also play the Mavs at AAC on Saturday night, Jones said he’ll probably go visit some of his old stomping grounds around Dallas on Friday. He also said he misses living in the Dallas area, misses playing for the Mavs, and misses the camaraderie he had with his teammates.
“(I miss) just being around everybody,” he said. “The coaching staff definitely pushed us to be something that they knew we could be and we knew we could be at the beginning of the year. (I miss) the bonds that I built with the players and the relationships that I got with everybody here.”
BRIEFLY: Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers was part of a new group of nominees who this week are now eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Rivers, who coached the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA title, has coached in 1,921 games and is eligible as a coach. Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said it’s a given that Rivers belongs in the Hall of Fame. “He’s someone who gave me my first opportunity to be a coach,” Lue said. “He saw the coach in me, which I didn’t even see. I don’t think I would be in this position.” Lue was an assistant on Rivers’ Celtics staff from 2011-13, and also was on Rivers’ Clippers staff in the 2013-14 season and again in 2019-20. “I owe a lot of this to Doc – just giving me my first opportunity — him and (Celtics’ executive) Danny Ainge,” Lue said. “As far as a hall of famer, that’s a no-brainer.” . . . In addition to being without Luka Doncic (left heel contusion) and Kyrie Irving ( right shoulder soreness) Thursday, the Mavs were also without Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), Dante Exum (right wrist surgery) and Brandon Williams (right thumb sprain).
X: @DwainPrice
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