Excluding Bradley Beal, who is on a minutes restriction, head coach Tyronn Lue is playing Derrick Jones Jr. the least out of all of his starters at 23 minutes per game. However, the veteran wing has not let playing time subtract anything from his mentality, as he has not missed a shot inside the three-point line through five games.
Along with Kawhi Leonard’s sensational start, James Harden’s elite scoring-playmaking consistencies, and Kris Dunn’s soon-to-be headlined campaign for Sixth Man of the Year, Jones Jr. is prospering yet again for the Clippers.
What Jones Jr. does inside the paint is unheard of, and his numbers, particularly being tied with just a few at one-hundred percent on two-pointers, have been crucial in the Clippers’ three wins. Not missing a single attempt on the inside, of course, is not sustainable for 82 games, yet his phenomenal start has foreshadowed that LA’s long-awaited championship leap is bound to occur.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s value for the Clippers has flown under everyone’s radar
This season, James Harden has been in the news for scoring nearly 30 in one half against the Phoenix Suns, as had Kawhi Leonard for draining a game-winner over two defenders, Friday night, against the New Orleans Pelicans. But, where is Derrick Jones Jr.’s praise for averaging double digits on surreal efficiencies?
In four games, Jones Jr. has averaged 10.4 points and 2.4 rebounds, shooting 65.5% from the field and 45.0% from beyond the arc on four tries per game. He also had the perfect game against the Suns, scoring 17 points, making five three-pointers, committing zero turnovers, and attaining a true-shooting percentage of 141.7.
Moreover, Jones Jr. is recording these numbers and shooting splits while still being one of the LA Clippers’ best defenders. He is regularly assigned by Tyronn Lue to some of the opponents’ top scorers and players who love to move off the ball.
This is because Lue knows the ten-year veteran is capable and does not make mistakes, such as falling asleep on defense and allowing his man to run free for an open layup or an easy look on the perimeter.
Nonetheless, Jones Jr. has a formidable list of tasks as a role player, but this is what he trained for during the summer. Having him last season was a luxury, and all he has done since then is elevate himself, justifying why the Clippers will finally win a ring.