Kai Jones is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. He stands at 6’11 with a 7’1 wingspan who block shots, rebound, runs, and stretch the floor, there is a lot to like. Jones committed to the Longhorns over the likes of Florida State and Baylor in 2018, spending two seasons in Austin before declaring for this year’s draft. He averaged 6.2 points per game in that time, 4.8 rebounds, and 1 block a game. While nothing to write home about, the interest in Jones is in his potential. There were flashes of greatness during his college career, but just that. So what should NBA fans expect out of Jones? Find out, in Def Pen’s Kai Jones NBA Draft Profile.
Strengths: Athleticism and Tools
Kai Jones is one of the more athletic and mobile big men in this class. He has a good motor that allows him to get up and down the court with ease. Despite standing at 6’11, Jones is still quite mobile and has quick feet, allowing him to guard smaller opponents if he gets switched. He is too long and too quick to get beaten on the dribble. With a 7’1 wingspan, he can contest almost any shot from anywhere on the court. Jones also has quite active hands and can read passes and shots well, which pair excellently with his ability to guard almost anyone. Defensively, there is so much to like about Jones and he does not seem anywhere close to his ceiling either.
Potential and Skills
On the offensive end, there is also a lot of excitement around Jones’s potential. Kai Jones is most comfortable finishing around the rim, using his wingspan to throw down dunks and avoid opponents contesting his shots. He also is a menace in transition, throwing down thunderous dunks and jamming home lobs from teammates. Another intriguing aspect of his game is the potential to stretch the floor. Jones averaged around 38% from 3, making 13 over the course of the season. While this may have been a small sample size, his shoot mechanics look to be sound so there is room for growth. Additionally, he also has solid hands for his position and has solid handles.
Weaknesses: Raw Talent and Consistency
The biggest drawback for Jones is his lack of experience. Incredibly, he has been playing basketball for less than five years. It is both super impressive that Jones is at the level he is and a little concerning for someone about to join the best basketball league in the world. There is also the issue of consistency; Jones has all the tools to be a great all-around big and has shown flashes from time to time. The issue, however, is that these were only flashes, rather than consistent game-to-game performances. Jones also has been burned at times by losing his man or being bullied by stronger and more experienced players in the post. This might be a concerning fact given that Jones will likely be defending mostly in the post. Kai also has a foul issue, nearly averaging 3 fouls a game last season and 4.1 fouls per 40. Foul trouble will lead to Jones playing less and more conservatively than he might without foul trouble. He also seems to hesitate whenever left open, despite his solid shooting stroke from outside. Jones will pass or attack the rim rather than take a wide-open 3.
NBA Comparison: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jackson and Jones both have the size, length, and agility in a unique combination along with a ton of potential for growth. They both are promising two-way players who can be flexible on both ends of the court guarding and scoring against all five positions. They are also both big men who have the potential to stretch the floor. Jackson has done well expanding his game while in Memphis. Both have issues with aggressiveness on the offensive end and are not the strongest rebounders. It also should be noted that Jackson was a much more proven player coming into the NBA Draft.
Kai Jones is an incredibly interesting prospect, who has a ton of upside but also some large questions that might hold him back. He is a quite raw prospect, with a lot to offer but some experience issues that might have teams pause before selecting Jones. Only time will tell if this Texas big man will succeed at the NBA level.
