The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Kai Jones continues to display his versatility with another dominant performance as he continues his latest G-League assignment with the Greensboro Swarm.

Jones finished with a season high 21 points and 11 rebounds in a 109-105 double overtime win yesterday at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware. He shot 8-13 from the field, including 3-5 from three-point range.

It marked Jones’ third double double of the new G-League season and third straight game with at least one three-point field goal made.

In five G-League regular season games in 2022, Jones is averaging 14.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 58 percent from the field. Prior to the G-League Showcase, Jones averaged just 11 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Tuesday night, he finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in just 25 minutes of a 105-96 loss to the Cleveland Charge. He shot 4-10 from the field and 1-2 from three point range.

On January 29, Jones finished with 13 points, a game high 17 rebounds, and a game high three blocked shots in the Swarm’s 115-108 win over the Wisconsin Herd. He shot 6-7 from the field and 1-2 from three-point range in 33 minutes.

He also posted 17 points, made 3-6 three point field goals, and added four blocks in a 116-109 loss to the Capital City Go-Gos on January 15.

James Plowright, who covers the Hornets and Swarm beat for SB Nation, detailed Jones’ recent growth that has been on full display over this recent stretch of games.

“The difference in Kai Jones game from Summer League to now is seismic. In Summer League he was playing power forward and forcing shots inside while contested, over dribbling on the perimeter, overly commuting to offensive rebounds and generally trying to do too much,” he said in a series of tweets.

“Now watching him in the G League he’s playing almost exclusively the five, but his play style is the thing that has changed the most. [Jordan] Surenkamp has completely simplified the game for him, he’s now playing much more like a traditional big.”

In the Las Vegas Summer League, Jones averaged 9.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game.

“He’s setting more screens than he ever did at Texas and is focusing on being a roll man with some success. Gone is the perimeter dribbling and pull ups, he still takes a turnaround now and then when the shot clock goes down. He only takes open catch and shoot threes, he switches on defence,” Plowright said.

“The coaching staff will still be working with Kai to develop the other areas, but it’s clear they want him to focus on the core skills that will get him on an NBA court first.”