Jones, 29, served as a veteran point guard to fill the Nuggets’ backcourt need during the season and is eligible for the playoffs. He began the season with the Orlando Magic after signing a one-year deal last summer – his 11th season in the NBA. Jones was traded to the Charlotte Hornets, then transferred to the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline, before being waived on Saturday to free up roster space for the team to sign two-way guard Ryan Nembhard.
According to ESPN Research, in eight games since joining the Mavericks in early February, Jones averaged 8.1 assists per 36 minutes – and his assist-to-turnover ratio was 6.0, which ranked third-best in the NBA during that span.
Jones gives the Nuggets an experienced ball handler and game manager as a reserve behind Jamal Murray. This season, the Nuggets are averaging the third-fewest assists per game (6.5) off the bench in the NBA – ahead of only the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.
The best seasons of Jones’ career came with Memphis in 2021–22 and 2022–23, when he averaged 9.5 points and 4.8 assists in 153 games, earning Sixth Man of the Year votes.
Jones is averaging career lows in points per game (3.1%), field goal percentage (34.9%) and 3-point percentage (28.1%) this season.
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