Offensive Game
Solid contributor rather than a primary scorer. Effective catch-and-shoot threat at ~36% from three and a reliable finisher near the basket. Not a shot creator.
Career Journey
New Orleans Pelicans
2021-present
Elite Defender
One of the best wing defenders in the NBA
2021 NBA Draft
Selected 35th overall by New Orleans Pelicans
Alabama Product
Standout defender at University of Alabama
NBA All-Defensive Team
Named to All-Defensive team in 2023
Career Earnings
~$45M
Estimated total NBA career salary
Herb Jones is one of the NBA's most disruptive perimeter defenders — a long, switchable wing who turns takeaways into transition offense for the New Orleans Pelicans. A second-round steal out of Alabama in 2021, he made the 2023-24 All-Defensive First Team and has averaged at least 1.4 steals in every season of his career, routinely drawing the toughest wing assignment. His 2025-26 was interrupted and less efficient offensively — 8.9 points on 38.3% shooting across 56 games — but his defensive value keeps him central to New Orleans' plans. Long, smart and relentless, Jones is the kind of stopper who swings games without needing the ball.
Offensive Game
Solid contributor rather than a primary scorer. Effective catch-and-shoot threat at ~36% from three and a reliable finisher near the basket. Not a shot creator.
Defensive Game
Elite perimeter defender — All-Defensive caliber, can guard 1-through-4 in switching schemes. Elite anticipation, length, and competitive fire.
Intangibles
Very high defensive IQ — reads plays before they develop, understands rotations, and communicates schemes effectively.
Personal Life & Family
Status
Private
Parents & Siblings
Off the Court
Alabama youth basketball programs and community engagement
Did You Know?
Jones was a second-round pick who immediately earned All-Defensive Second Team honors as a rookie — one of the most remarkable defensive impacts by any late-round pick in NBA history.
He is from Greensboro, Alabama — Hale County — a rural community that produced one of the finest defensive players of his generation.
Jones is one of the most underrated players in the league by casual fans — coaches and insiders consistently rank him among the top defensive wings.
He almost exclusively covers opposing teams' best perimeter scorer — a testament to how much his coaches trust his defensive ability.
Career Honors
2021 NBA Draft 35th Overall Pick
NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2022)
SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2021)
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New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans
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