Close Menu
    What's Hot

    Does Kevin Love Deserve a Spot in the Hall of Fame?

    March 1, 2025

    Will Mike Trout Be in the Hall of Fame?

    February 22, 2025

    MLB Teams in Alphabetical Order by Team Name

    January 25, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube Reddit
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube Reddit
    Sideline Coverage
    Subscribe Login
    • Home
    • Forum
    • NFL

      NFL Teams in Alphabetical Order by City

      January 25, 2025

      NFL Teams in Alphabetical Order by Team Name

      January 25, 2025

      The Highest Paid NFL Wide Receivers in 2025: A New Era of Financial Prosperity​

      June 8, 2024

      The Unique Ownership Structure of the Green Bay Packers: A Model of Community Ownership​

      June 3, 2024

      The Only Difference Between Podcasts and Conversations Is Listenership…NFL Playoffs Are Here & We Have Content!​

      January 11, 2023
    • NBA

      Does Kevin Love Deserve a Spot in the Hall of Fame?

      March 1, 2025

      NBA Teams in Alphabetical Order by Team Name

      January 25, 2025

      NBA Teams in Alphabetical Order by City

      January 25, 2025

      The 2018 NBA Finals: A Dominant Sweep by the Golden State Warriors

      July 27, 2024

      The Shortest NBA Players of All Time: Defying the Odds

      June 29, 2024
    • MLB

      Will Mike Trout Be in the Hall of Fame?

      February 22, 2025

      MLB Teams in Alphabetical Order by Team Name

      January 25, 2025

      MLB Teams in Alphabetical Order by City

      January 25, 2025

      The 1919 Black Sox Scandal: A Dark Chapter in Baseball History​

      April 22, 2024

      MLB Cy Young Award Predictions 2024​

      April 1, 2024
    • NHL

      The Greatest of All Time in the NHL: Wayne Gretzky

      July 20, 2024

      The NHL’s Most Valuable Franchises in 2024

      July 13, 2024

      Alexander Ovechkin’s Chase to Be the All-Time Points Leader: A Historic Journey

      June 17, 2024

      Bubble or Not Here We Go!​

      August 10, 2020
    • NCAA
      1. NCAA Football
      2. NCAA Basketball
      3. NCAA Baseball
      4. Other NCAA Sports
      5. View All

      John Jenkins: A Historic Career at Vanderbilt University

      July 2, 2024

      Kai Jones – First Round Steal

      March 10, 2021

      John Jenkins: A Historic Career at Vanderbilt University

      July 2, 2024

      Kai Jones – First Round Steal

      March 10, 2021
    • Other
      • MLS
      • Golf
      • Tennis
      • WNBA
    Sideline Coverage
    • Home
    • Forum
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • NCAA
    • Other
    Home»NBA»Kai Jones – First Round Steal
    NBA

    Kai Jones – First Round Steal

    Trey HillBy Trey HillMarch 10, 2021Updated:June 8, 2024No Comments6 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
    Kai Jones – First Round Steal
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    This is the draft of the stars. The big names that teams, scouts, and fans have been waiting to hit the league for the last few years. Multiple prospects have franchise changing, #1 option on a title team potential. The guys teams tank for and fans spend years praying they get the chance to see wear their team colors one day. Before you get too excited, Kai Jones isn’t one of those prospects. But he might be the best Robin to a Batman in this draft and in my favorite guy outside the top ten right now that is guaranteed to be a success for whatever team drafts him.

    In the clip below watch as he shows off everything a team is looking for at the 4 spot in today’s league. Contesting shots at the rim, putting the ball on the court and then finishing through contact, catching the oop, blocking the shot, and then running the floor to dribble once and finish a fast break dunk to take over a stretch in their first game of the season. Just a little bit of all the things you like to see from a guy who knows he isn’t going to be the lead guy on offense.

    Three Point Shooting

    The only part of his game that Jones didn’t showcase in that dominant stretch is his ability to knock down the three point shot; something nearly every role player is required to have these days. Luckily for Jones it’s a talent that he possesses as I showcased in the clip below. The first shot you see Jones set the screen to initiate the switch and immediately rise up for the basket with confidence over the smaller player; something Jones will see a lot with his 6’11 height. I followed that with a couple of his catch and shoot corner three attempts I liked while watching the film and finished up with an above the break, face up dagger after jab stepping his defender into a false sense of security. He has all of the tools to be a stretch big in this league in the same way a Daniel Theis or John Collins from around the entire perimeter instead of just the corners. Wherever he is behind the line he’s a threat to shoot and has the confidence in himself to pull on anyone.

    Motor/Drive/Effort

    Let’s be realistic though; bigs who can stretch the floor aren’t the rarity they were even five years ago. So while having such a nice potential stroke in the NBA does make Jones’s draft stock rise it isn’t enough itself. That’s why the love Jones has for the game of basketball and the work ethic Texas raves about shining through in his game on the court makes such a big difference. Whether it’s crashing the offensive boards, cutting to the basket with purpose, or running the floor and filling the lanes correctly you can always count on Jones to be actively putting him in a position to help the team win. Effort will never be a problem for him.

    Shortcomings

    What will be a problem for him when he gets into the league though is his size when he runs into the bigs of the world. Not a true center but at 6’11 I expect him to see the floor at center as well as power forward and until he adds some muscle to his 220 frame he’s going to get bullied like he has a few times in college. He also has a habit of being almost too active on defense which leaves him prone to cuts or sometimes you can see him thinking and ending up being a step too slow because of it.

    I expect these things to improve when he gets to the pros (though how much will depend on where he goes which will play a lot into his success. But isn’t that the story with 85% of the players drafted?) and just from playing more and getting more reps under his belt. He isn’t at an Evan Mobley level on defense when it comes to prospects this year though he is effective at protecting the rim and contesting shots and I think will end up being at least a net neutral defender if not a plus one. He knows where he needs to be and what he needs to do; his body just has to grow into where he can cooperate.

    Ball Handling/Vision

    He still has plenty to offer teams from the get go though. Other than his shooting he’s not an elite ball handler or passer but he isn’t below average in either area. He’s able to both grab the rebound and lead a break or put the ball on the ground from the triple threat outside the three point line and dish when the help comes on his drive which forces defenses to account for him. In the clips below he shows off his ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket as well as running the break to go with the vision of the passes at the end. When Jones is involved in the game good things happen for his team and whatever team drafts him is going to get who I might think is the steal of the draft outside the big five.

    Overall Evaluation

    Overall, while Kai Jones isn’t an elite, build your offense around talent like a lot of the high end talent in this draft he has the skills, passion, and skills to take the training he receives and apply it to making improvements in his game. Someone who no matter the team that drafts him will be a better player in 4 years than they are now and eventually is going to be a quality player on a contending team at the least in my opinion. Teams are going to be looking for 6’11 rim runners who can shoot threes and have a motor that doesn’t quit and that’s exactly what Kai Jones offers. We will look at him the way we look at OG Anunoby and I can’t wait to see where he falls in the first round.

    basketball nba nba draft ncaa ncaa basketball
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
    Previous ArticleThe All-Star Game Was Not Strictly a TV Event & the NBA Missed an Excellent Opportunity to Truly Showcase HBCUs Plus We Are At the Moment When Teams Are Either Buyers or Sellers
    Next Article Part Two of Which Players We Would Go Back & Grab From Each Team’s History with Dan Pecora (from Snowflake Sports Podcast) (NFC Teams)​
    Avatar photo
    Trey Hill
    • Website

    Related Posts

    Does Kevin Love Deserve a Spot in the Hall of Fame?

    March 1, 2025

    NBA Teams in Alphabetical Order by Team Name

    January 25, 2025

    NBA Teams in Alphabetical Order by City

    January 25, 2025

    The 2018 NBA Finals: A Dominant Sweep by the Golden State Warriors

    July 27, 2024
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Don't Miss
    NBA

    Does Kevin Love Deserve a Spot in the Hall of Fame?

    By James JosephMarch 1, 20250

    The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is reserved for players who have left an…

    Will Mike Trout Be in the Hall of Fame?

    February 22, 2025

    MLB Teams in Alphabetical Order by Team Name

    January 25, 2025

    MLB Teams in Alphabetical Order by City

    January 25, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube Reddit
    • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Shop
    • Podcasts
    A Uvopia Production

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Sign In or Register

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below.

    Prove your humanity


    Lost password?