Disappointed, JaVale McGee and the Kings saw the ball ricochet, then fall into the circle. Herb Jones had just signed a gesture as rare as it was unacademic: a tap with his left hand, yet far from the basket because he was playing for the rebound, after a missed free throw by Trey Murphy III at the buzzer of the first quarter.
This improbable shot fueled the Pelicans winger's very good offensive evening, in Sacramento as part of the NBA Tournament, with his team qualifying for the Final Four. Herb Jones was comfortable finishing near the rim thanks to his athleticism. Like his “coast-to-coast” at the very end of the match, when he resisted the presence of De'Aaron Fox on his return to the ball, to dunk with authority on the Californian defense.
Even more notable: its long distance address. The 25-year-old converted three game-winning baskets into catch-and-shoots, even allowing himself to innovate in celebration.
“ I just wanted to find something I've never seen people do. I don't know how it happened. I always tell Trey when we get to the gym, 'You need to warm up your gun before you shoot.' It's a bit like recharging the charger “, he compares.
More points and still as much defense
After his 0/4 from a distance two days earlier in Chicago, he reacted with a much better 3/5 behind the arc. This good ratio confirmed his good dynamic this season in outside shooting: almost 36%, his best career percentage. Result: in this match which counted more than the others in Sacramento, he finished with 23 points (8/13 on shots), his record this season, with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
This season, the player in his third NBA year is averaging more than 12 points (52% shooting), his best in his career. The explanation? “ Trust the work I put in. And my teammates, they believe in me, even if I don't necessarily have a great game offensively, they continue to trust me. No matter how many shots they miss, they know the next one will go in. I continue to work every day, as if I hadn't scored at all the day before “, delivered, before the meeting, the one who had changed little statistically between his first and second year.
This better offensive performance does not prevent him from remaining the defensive figurehead of his team, like his blocked shot on a poorly embarked Malik Monk, after a big feint, in the last moments from 3-points. “ Herb was everywhere. He was moving everywhere. He blocked shots, made interceptions, grabbed rebounds. We needed this effort all over the field », Appreciates his coach, Willie Green. “ One-on-one, Herb is a great defender, a great help defender. Unless they get a foul, they don't really score on him », adds CJ McCollum.
His teammate, who has almost 2 interceptions and more than one block, is proving that he is more than that.
| Herb Jones | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | NOP | 78 | 30 | 47.6 | 33.7 | 84.0 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 9.5 |
| 2022-23 | NOP | 66 | 30 | 46.9 | 33.5 | 76.4 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 9.8 |
| 2023-24 | NOP | 19 | 31 | 51.9 | 35.8 | 88.1 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 12.4 |
| Total | 163 | 30 | 47.8 | 34.0 | 81.5 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 10.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
