Duke basketball: Ranking all 27 Blue Devils in the NBA this season
By Matt Giles
Ranking Duke basketball’s NBA players this season: No. 12 Tyus Jones
- Age: 24
- Current team: Memphis Grizzlies (31-30)
- Games played this season: 59
- Games started: Eight
- Season averages: 6.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.1 blocks
- Shooting percentages: 43.8 from the field, 31.0 beyond the arc, 91.7 from the foul line
As noted here earlier in regards to Justise Winslow’s situation, Tyus Jones has stayed on the bench more often than he’s used to as of late. Nevertheless, Jones’ season as a whole has been significantly better than Winslow’s, if for no other reason than the 37-game difference in appearances between the two.
A strong perimeter defender. A trustworthy ballhandler and decision-maker. A top-of-the-line teammate. Yes, if Jones wasn’t shooting so poorly this season — except, of course, from the charity stripe — then chances are he would still be the primary backup floor general and might even rank inside the top 10 here.
As it is, though, Jones finds himself in a battle for minutes with a fellow former Blue Devil in Winslow.