It took some waiting, but Dillon Jones got his moment Saturday night in the final NBA Summer League game for the Washington Wizards.<\/p>\n
The Weber State alum and new Wizard led his summer club to a 94-85 win over New York in Las Vegas, peppering the Knicks from all three levels. Jones totaled 25 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes for a notable performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no question who\u2019s been the best player in this game today, and that\u2019s been Dillon Jones,\u201d said NBA TV\u2019s color analyst during the fourth quarter, just as Jones got the ball on the left wing. Jones went between his legs twice, crossed over another time, pivoted toward the baseline and stepped back for a clean look at a baseline jumper, which rattled home for his final field goal of the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cDillon Jones has been electric!\u201d exclaimed the play-by-play announcer.<\/p>\n
Jones shot 8 of 13 overall, 2 of 3 from the 3-point line and 7 of 9 at the free-throw stripe while adding three assists, two steals and one block.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a really versatile defender and he\u2019s a veteran in this space, so he did a really good job of leading his group on the floor,\u201d said JJ Outlaw, Washington\u2019s head coach for Summer League. \u201cJust very proud of his effort, his leadership and everything he brought to this team throughout Summer League.\u201d<\/p>\n
After his draft selection and eventual NBA title with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jones was shipped to Washington in a trade as the Thunder needed to make more playing time for Nikola Topic and needed a roster spot for this year\u2019s first-round pick. The Wizards seemingly focused their early Summer League games on getting their 2025 draft picks on the court first, so Jones got just 9 minutes of action in the first two games.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the tough part about Summer League is that, a lot of different things going on, you put a team together in a week and try to figure it out. Especially for the Wizards with a lot of young guys playing,\u201d Jones said. \u201cThe trade happened so fast, I was just trying to come in and be part of the group and just figure it out when I could. I\u2019m a player who plays the game the right way. I\u2019m not going to go out there and just try to say I\u2019m trying to prove that I can play. I wouldn\u2019t be here if I couldn\u2019t do that. I just knew to stay the course during Summer League and my opportunity would come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones played 19 minutes in a game against Philadelphia, totaling five points and four rebounds on 2-of-2 shooting from the field. He logged a plus-one in the plus-minus, Washington\u2019s only positive player in a 16-point loss.<\/p>\n
Jones netted 12 points in the next outing against Utah, but grabbed just one rebound and shot 4 of 12 in a loss. So Saturday gave him a bounce-back game to end Summer League on a more positive note.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou always have to prove yourself regardless, on any roster. Coming into a new situation, at some point, the opportunity would come and I would just have to deliver,\u201d Jones said. \u201cI prepared for the moment throughout the playoffs; I saw a lot of high-level basketball recently. \u2026 Just stay the course and I\u2019d be able to put a good day today.<\/p>\n
\u201cI approached it the same way I approached every other game but as the stakes (rose), I was able to rise with them, and I think that\u2019s who I am. The opportunity was there for me tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another Weber State alum had a different experience. Blaise Threatt was one of 20 players the Milwaukee Bucks rostered for Summer League and an ankle injury during practice meant Threatt did not see action in any of the Bucks\u2019 five games in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n