Stepping stones with Tyus Jones
Tyus Jones became what the Memphis Grizzlies have always needed, and now he'll have the title he's been working towards: a NBA starting point guard
Do you remember the old days of Memphis Grizzlies’ backup point guards? You sat in your seat, hoping and praying they could survive the stretches Mike Conley needed a rest. It was a position that felt like a revolving door. They had a couple good runs with players like Beno Udrih and Mario Chalmers, but there was no stability or success with a second-unit floor general.
Then came Tyus Jones, a backup point guard who not only washed away that feeling, but provided such relief — not only as a backup but as a starter, too.
You can’t talk about Tyus Jones without his steadiness. He led the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio in all 4 seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies — as well as his final season in Minnesota in 2018-19. That trait also translated to when he had to step in as a starting point guard, as he guided the team to stay afloat in the face of injuries.
Most sports followers are worried when their star player goes down, but with Jones ready to step in, the Grizzlies rarely missed a beat. In the 2021-22 season, the Grizzlies were 21-4 when Jones started. Last season, he averaged averaged 16.4 points, 8.1 assists (1.5 turnovers), 4.0 rebounds on 50/41.5/77.8 shooting splits, and his game as a starter encapsulated Jones’ evolution as a player — a cool development to monitor over the past several seasons.
Over the past few years, but particularly last season, he’s grown as an offensive player. He’ll slice defenses with his methodical pick-and-roll game, leveraging his floater and his playmaking to identify easier scoring opportunities. His improvements as a 3-point shooter, especially as a creator, were evident. He came into Memphis not much of a shooter — shooting 33.3% from 3 in his first 4 seasons. Throughout this time in Memphis, he shot at least 37% or better in 3 of his 4 years.
Jones added value as a complementary shooter with his catch-and-shoot jumper (37.7%) and his corner 3 (52.9%). His pull-up shooting though was a thrilling dynamic. Knocking down 36.5% on dribble 3’s (75th percentile, per The B-Ball Index), Jones had this pep in his step when firing from downtown. When cooking, those jumpers were cold, filled with swagger and confidence, and pure hooper art. Jones’ evolution as a live-dribble shooter embodied the “let it fly” and “take more 3’s, make more 3’s” philosophies Taylor Jenkins has instilled in Memphis throughout his tenure.
Jones’ production and growth served as stepping stones for his game — arriving to Memphis as an underused young point guard, to becoming a steady backup, to growing into one of the best second-unit floor generals in the league. With each opportunity he had to run the offense in Ja’s absence, he proved he was a starting point guard in the league — which is how he’s always carried himself regardless of where he was on the depth chart.
Through the evolution of his game, Tyus Jones also became a veteran voice, a role he had grown into especially this past season. As the team faced adversity, he was a presence turned to for guidance.
Now is time for the next stepping stone in Jones’ career as a full-time starting point guard, and a veteran guide for a franchise ushering in a new era. He’ll be responsible for setting the table for young guys like Bilal Coulibaly, Deni Avdija, and Corey Kispert — while sharing the backcourt with a young, talented agent of chaos in Jordan Poole.
This new chapter for Tyus Jones also comes at a time where the Memphis Grizzlies are looking to reach their next stepping stone. The Grizzlies acquired a veteran to serve as a locker room presence, defensive stopper, and a playmaker — and bringing in impactful talent comes at a cost. However, as Zach Kleiman has usually done when dealing his players, it serves as a win-win to address the team’s goals and get those guys to optimal situations. And for Tyus Jones, it’s somewhere he can realize his goal of becoming a full-time NBA starting point guard.
From the growth in his game, to the opportunities for a larger role, to his big shot in the playoffs (in his hometown!), to the voice he carried in the locker room — his time in Memphis has Tyus Jones ready for the next stepping stone in his career, one that comes with a well-earned promotion.
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