During the presentation conference of Tyus Jones In a press conference this week, Phoenix executives were able to congratulate themselves on many things. The Suns have indeed pulled off one of the best deals of the summer by acquiring a reference point guard for only $3.3 million over one year.
A true playmaker, he is indeed the missing piece in the puzzle of Mike Budenholzer to support its “Big Three” Beal-Booker-DurantIn addition to highlighting the basketball skills of his new recruit, who is coming off a career-best season in points, shooting percentage and assists in his first season as a starter in Washington, Suns chairman Josh Bartelstein also highlighted the human side, which he learned to discover over the course of negotiations.
The best ratio in the league in six years…
There is a third important point that Tyus Jones has returned to: his ability to take care of the ball. This will indeed be a necessary asset for the Suns who were among the teams that conceded the most turnovers in the last playoff campaign (14th out of 16 with 13.5 balls lost on average over four games).
Because it is indeed one of the technical characteristics of the 28-year-old point guard, who demonstrated it again last season by losing an average of only 66 balls in 66 games, against 485 assists in total, in 1,933 minutes played. It is simply the best ratio in the entire NBA, and it has lasted for six seasons!
“It's up to me to get the ball to the guys in their spots and in the best conditions so they can put the ball in the basket.”, he recalled. “We've got a bunch of guys who can do that. I'm really looking forward to it, and I don't expect my turnover numbers to change.”
A question of efficiency
The problem has been a recurring one throughout the regular season for Phoenix as well, which has averaged more than 14 turnovers per game. Tyus Jones says the key to the Suns' success will also be there.
“As a point guard, the ball is in your hands most of the time. As a team, the fewer turnovers you have, the more possessions you have that result in a shot, which increases your chances of scoring more points,” he thus logically added.
For the rest, Tyus Jones is convinced that these Suns have all the weapons to dominate the league, capable of shining in modern basketball, with also the versatility to be able to respond to all challenges.
“Teams are playing smaller and faster. The scoring is at an all-time high, the 3-point shooting is at an all-time high. I think we fit that well. I think it’s going to work and I plan on continuing to do that. We want to play faster, continue to score at a high rate, and be efficient. We want to be an efficient basketball team.” he explains in response to doubts about Phoenix's very outward style.
| Tyus Jones | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | MIN | 37 | 16 | 35.9 | 30.2 | 71.8 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 4.2 |
| 2016-17 | MIN | 60 | 13 | 41.4 | 35.6 | 76.7 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 3.5 |
| 2017-18 | MIN | 82 | 18 | 45.7 | 34.9 | 87.7 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 5.1 |
| 2018-19 | MIN | 68 | 23 | 41.5 | 31.7 | 84.1 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 6.9 |
| 2019-20 | SAME | 65 | 19 | 45.9 | 37.9 | 74.1 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 7.5 |
| 2020-21 | SAME | 70 | 18 | 43.1 | 32.1 | 91.1 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 6.3 |
| 2021-22 | SAME | 73 | 21 | 45.1 | 39.0 | 81.8 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 8.7 |
| 2022-23 | SAME | 80 | 24 | 43.8 | 37.1 | 80.0 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 5.2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 10.3 |
| 2023-24 | WAS | 66 | 29 | 48.9 | 41.4 | 80.0 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 7.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 12.0 |
| Total | 601 | 20 | 44.5 | 36.7 | 81.3 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 7.4 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
