South Sudan’s basketball team made a historic debut in the Paris Olympics 2024 with a triumphant win over Puerto Rico. Leading the charge was Carlik Jones, who scored 19 points to secure a 90-79 victory. Jones had already showcased his talent against Team USA in the exhibition match, recording 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Currently, Jones is playing for Partizan Mozzart Bet in the Basketball League of Serbia, the ABA League, and the Euro League. Before delving into his international success, let’s explore his journey from high school to his brief stint in the NBA.

High school to college

Carlik Jones grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended school. Disaster struck Jones’ life right from birth as he was diagnosed with a brain condition and advised not to play physical competitive sports due to the risk of a fatal head injury. However, Jones had an unwavering determination from a young age and was not ready to give up. “We made sure that the doctor agreed it was safe for him to play sports, and that happened around second grade. From there, he has been playing basketball and football and he has always been trying to prove people wrong” Jones’ father said in an interview.

Jones excelled in high school at Aiken, where he averaged 22.3 points and six assists per game. After high school, he signed with Radford University, where he was the standout player. To improve his chances of getting into the NBA, he transferred to Louisville, averaging 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Jones was a First-Team All-ACC pick and finished second in the ACC Player of the Year voting. Despite his impressive college stats, his path to the NBA took an unexpected turn.

Jones’ short run in the NBA

Much to everyone’s surprise, Jones went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft. He joined the Dallas Mavericks in the Summer League hoping to make the main team but was waived. Despite this setback, Jones was determined not to give up. He signed with the Texas Legends in the NBA G-League and averaged 20.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.

Jones’ performance in the G-League led to a 10-day contract with the Dallas Mavericks, but he did not secure a contract extension. The Denver Nuggets then offered him another 10-day contract, yet this also did not advance his NBA career.

Disheartened but resilient, Jones returned to the G-League in 2022. Later that year, the Chicago Bulls signed him to a two-way contract for 1 season. However, before he could complete his contract, the Bulls waived him, and he has not played in the NBA since.

Why did the Bulls waive Carlike Jones?

Carlik Jones’ release from the Bulls was due to two main reasons. First, the Bulls had a crowded backcourt with players like Coby White, Jevon Carter, and Ayo Dosunmu, alongside Lonzo Ball, who was on the roster despite not playing that season.

Secondly, by waiving Jones, the Bulls managed to stay under the luxury tax limit. Jones was guaranteed about $250,000 of his contract on opening night, and removing him from the squad helped the Bulls avoid exceeding the tax threshold, much to Jones’ displeasure.

Carlik Jones’ professional journey has been far from simple. Going undrafted and constantly changing teams each year can take a toll on a person, but his family and friends have always supported him through these adversities. On the bright side, this is all behind him now, and he looks forward to performing his best in the Olympics. Jones even referred to the Olympics as a “huge blessing” and another chance for him to prove himself.

Carlik’s international career

Jones played for South Sudan for the first time in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, debuting with 35 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, making him the first player in 30 years to achieve a double-double in the tournament. He averaged 19.7 points and 7.7 assists per game.

Jones also had a stellar game against Britain during the exhibition games, scoring 13 points, 2 rebounds, and 8 assists to seal the win for South Sudan.

In their Olympic debut, South Sudan secured a win over Puerto Rico. However, during the ceremonies, there was a mix-up, and the Olympics officials played the wrong anthem for South Sudan. Despite the rocky start, South Sudan ended the game with an impressive victory.

“I’ll say it added more fuel to the fire” Jones said, “ I think we had a lot of fuel coming in. I feel like a lot of people don’t think we belong. A lot of people think that we don’t deserve to be here. But if you ask me, I think we have every right to be here. And, you know, we’re confident. We’re confident in the team. We’re confident in what we’ve done so far. And we just know we’ve got to keep going”.

Carlik Jones led his team to their first Olympic victory, but will he be able to lead them to their first Olympic medal?

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