The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

KAI Jones and the Charlotte Hornets officially began their 2022-23 campaign as the NBA preseason got underway yesterday.

Jones played sparingly late in the fourth quarter but finished with five points, five rebounds and a blocked shot in just nine minutes of the Hornets’ 134-93 loss to the Boston Celtics yesterday at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jones powered home a pair of dunks over Celtics centre Luka Samanic that went viral postgame.

The Hornets are now under coach Steve Clifford, in his second run with Charlotte after James Borrego was fired following the season.

Charlotte connected on 35 percent of its overall shots and made only five of 33 shots from 3-point range. Boston led 68-46 at halftime and stretched the lead to as many as 46 in the second half.

Clifford called Jones “an exceptional athlete” and “phenomenal worker” when asked about his role in the frontcourt at training camp. “Kai [Jones] to me, right now, is more of a centre. He can play some four. Even for our league he’s an exceptional athlete and physical.

“How quickly he puts himself in a place where he can legitimately play night in and night out in NBA games is just purpose of play,” Clifford said.

“For all young players, especially inside guys, that’s the hardest thing. Playing to your strengths, helping your teammates play to their strengths, so we’ll see.”

The Hornets return veteran centre Mason Plumlee, third year player Nick Richards and rookie Mark Williams all at the five spot.

Plumlee got the start and played 15 minutes while Richards played 18 and Williams received 11 minutes in the rotation ahead of Jones.

Forwards Jalen McDaniels and JT Thor were also ahead of Jones in the rotation at 19 and 15 minutes respectively.

Jones called his rookie season “a beautiful experience” at Hornets media day but looks forward to making a bigger impact.

“With my athleticism, I can have a two-way impact,” he said. “Lob threat, blocking shots, just being versatile.”

In 2021, he excelled at the G-League level on assignment with the Greensboro Swarm averaging 16.5 points on 61.4 percent shooting from the field – 32 percent from three-point range – 9.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.1 blocks in 32 total G League games. He also posted 15 total double-doubles.