Offensive Game
Limited half-court scorer but elite in transition and as a cutter and lob finisher. Dunk Contest champion whose athleticism generates scoring from movement rather than creation.
Career Journey
Phoenix Suns
2016-2018
Miami Heat
2018-2020
Portland Trail Blazers
2020-2021
Chicago Bulls
2021-2022
Dallas Mavericks
2022-2023
Los Angeles Clippers
2023-present
2020 Slam Dunk Contest champion
Won the 2020 contest with a windmill launched from just inside the free-throw line; he had been the 2017 runner-up.
2024 NBA Finals run with Dallas
As the Mavericks' primary wing stopper he defended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and Paul George en route to the Finals, then signed a three-year deal with the Clippers.
Undrafted to 10-year veteran
Went undrafted in 2016 and made himself a durable 3-and-D wing on the strength of elite athleticism and defense.
| Season | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 50 | 10.1 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 49.9% | 35.9% |
Jones went undrafted in 2016 and has spent a decade proving that elite athleticism, applied on the right end, keeps a career alive. He first grabbed headlines as a dunk-contest showman — runner-up in 2017, then champion in 2020 with a windmill from just inside the free-throw line — but the version that matters most is the defender. His signature stretch came in Dallas's 2024 Finals run, when he drew the toughest wing assignment nightly, taking turns on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and Paul George. That playoff run reframed him from bouncy novelty to trusted two-way piece and helped earn a three-year Clippers deal. The quiet development to watch is his corner three, which has crept up enough to keep defenses honest and let his rim-running and switch defense breathe.
Offensive Game
Limited half-court scorer but elite in transition and as a cutter and lob finisher. Dunk Contest champion whose athleticism generates scoring from movement rather than creation.
Defensive Game
Elite defensive athlete who disrupts with length, quickness, and activity. Rotates to contest shots outside his area, attacks the offensive glass, and guards 1-through-4 with physical intensity.
Intangibles
High IQ in defensive role assignments. Understands when to rotate, when to stay, and where to position. His undrafted journey required developing chess-player awareness to maximize his tools.
Personal Life & Family
Status
Private
Parents & Siblings
Off the Court
High Desert youth sports programs in the Antelope Valley
NBA Cares community outreach events
Did You Know?
Jones defeated Aaron Gordon in the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest on the final dunk — a victory that remains controversial among fans who felt Gordon deserved co-championship, but which cemented Jones' reputation as one of the most explosive humans to play basketball.
He was born in Palmdale, California — the same high desert city outside Los Angeles that produced multiple professional athletes, giving him a built-in connection to the Clippers' fanbase.
Jones went undrafted in 2016 despite his extraordinary athleticism — a miss that he has used as motivation throughout his career, making the most of every opportunity to prove NBA scouts wrong.
His nickname 'Airplane Mode' was given to him by teammates who marveled at how he seemed to disconnect from normal physical laws when leaving the ground — a name that captures his vertical game perfectly.
Career Honors
2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
2020 NBA Finals participant with Miami Heat
NBA All-Defensive consideration (2021)
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