Derrick Jones Jr. had a birthday party that was a slam dunk

Derrick Jones Jr. will never forget Feb. 15, 2020. That’s the day he turned 23 years old.

It’s also the day he won the NBA Slam Dunk contest – less than a month before the NBA shut down due to the coronavirus.

With millions watching worldwide, when it came down to the final two participants in the Slam Dunk contest, Jones won the championship over Aaron Gordon in what turned out to be one of the best dunk contests in NBA history.

In part of his dunking arsenal that night, Jones jumped over two men and went through his legs with a dunk. He also jumped over a person and grabbed an alley-oop pass squarely off the backboard, and then negotiated the ball under his legs and finished it with a power dunk.

“I had a lot of fun,” Jones said. “I’m just glad I was able to spend that night with my family.

“All my people were there. We just went out to dinner after the dunk contest. It was just a real chill-looking night for me.”

“He’s probably one of the most athletic guys I’ve seen,” Mavs two-way player A.J. Lawson said. “His dunks are through the roof.

“I’ve been watching him and he goes one step in and he can put it through his legs. That just proves right there that he’s got athleticism. He’s been giving me little pointers and hints, so I appreciate that for sure.”

A 6-6, 210-pound small forward, Jones has a history of being a lockdown defender, and he hopes to continue that trend with the Mavs.

“I feel like I can be one of the top defenders on the team, for sure,” Jones said. “And whenever I get my opportunity to knock down shots, I’ll knock down shots and create different opportunities.”

Jones said he made the decision to sign with the Mavs came after he had a conversation with coach Jason Kidd.

“It was honestly my initial conversation with coach Kidd,” he said. “We talked about everything that I needed to do to come here, and if I did come here it was all set in stone for me pretty much.”

Kidd wants Jones to be aggressive, play stout defense on the opponents’ premier perimeter player, and also take the open shots whenever they come his way.

“He’s been in the league (seven years), he’s athletic, he knows how to play (and) he’s improved his three-point shooting,” Kidd said. “I think his versatility to be able to guard (point guards) through (centers), and then also he can play the (center position) on offense (is great).

“Today, with him playing with the first group was good to see. I think just the versatility of being able to play him with Luka (Doncic) and Kyrie (Irving), and then being able to have him out there with Maxi (Kleber) or Grant (Williams), I think it just gives you the depth with the defensive assignments to be able to guard the perimeter.”

That versatility will likely be the reason Jones receives more playing time as opposed to the players who don’t have that versatility.

“Most (centers) in this league, if they put a (center) on me they’re not as fast as me,” Jones said. “So, whenever I set as screen. . .I can get to the rim and put pressure on the rim and make the low man pull in and we can get a wide open three most of the time.

“And if they don’t (pull in), obviously I’m going to get a dunk or Luka is going to get a layup.”

Jones played one year of college ball at the University of Nevada Las Vegas before turning pro. However, he was not chosen in the 2016 NBA Draft.

The Phoenix Suns eventually signed Jones in ’16, and he played there for one season before playing for the Miami Heat from ’17-20, for Portland from 20-21, and for the Chicago Bulls the past two seasons. In  344 career games – including 97 starts — Jones has averaged 6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 18.7 minutes, and shot 50.8 percent from the field.

Jones’ first impression of the Mavs was very favorable.

“Since day one when I stepped in the building, the fans embraced me with open arms,” Jones said. “Most of the players on the team, I already know them from playing against them. The relationships are already there.”

Jones’ relationship with the dunk, meanwhile, is legendary. And he is anxious to celebrate those moments this season with the Mavs’ fans.

X: @DwainPrice