The 2020 NBA Draft is one of the trickiest draft classes in recent years. Every player has specific ranges they may go in, but no player seems locked in any position. The 2019 NBA Draft had an established hierarchy of top three picks, with the rest following. This isn’t as cut and dry. As a result, there are many dark-horse picks this year.
Tre Jones coming from Duke University may be just one of those, according to respected head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
“I’d take Tre in a heartbeat, I think he’s the best point guard in the draft.”
Coach K discusses how Tre Jones' leadership sets him apart. pic.twitter.com/63vmSK3ZWt
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 14, 2020
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“I’d take Tre in a heartbeat. I think he’s the best point guard in the draft. He’s another guy who can come in and play right away. If you wanna run, there’s nobody better in passing than him.”
Jones has declared for the NBA Draft after two seasons with the Duke Blue Devils. He played alongside Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett as freshmen in the 2018-19 season, but had a limited role on the team. He averaged 16.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in his sophomore year.
NBA Draft 2020: Muddled point guard situation?
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Tre Jones is not the point guard that people have been lauding as the best in this draft. That honor has fallen to LaMelo Ball. Even behind LaMelo, there are quite a few names you’d think of before Jones. Cole Anthony, Tyrese Haliburton, and Killian Hayes come to mind. However, Tre Jones brings a skill-set that may ease his adjustment to the NBA easier.
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Jones is a standout defender, finishing as a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year trophy. He averages almost two steals a game and has the occasional block as well. While his scoring may be streaky, and his passing still a little unrefined, he is a very valuable player on the court. His offense has an upside, as he has shown a competent three-point shot at college.
College players do struggle to adjust to the gritty play of the NBA, with rookie point guards usually having a larger learning curve due to their lack of athleticism. Considering how open-ended this year’s draft is, Tre Jones may just be the sleeper pick that falls to a team and blossoms into a valuable player.