Derrick Jones Jr. accepts NBA Dunk Contest invite; here’s his resume
Feb 2, 2017, 5:24 PM | Updated: 5:54 pm
Derrick Jones Jr. is officially in the 2017 NBA Dunk Contest, and it’s likely NBA fans — heck, even Suns fans — are wondering one thing: “Who?”
The 19-year-old rookie out of UNLV has only played 11 minutes of NBA action in three games as he’s bounced between Phoenix and the D-League’s Northern Arizona Suns. With the D-League squad, the 6-foot-7, 190-pounder is averaging 15 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
In the dunk contest, which will take place on Saturday, Feb. 18, he joins last year’s runner-up, Aaron Gordon of the Magic, along with the Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan and the Pacers’ Glenn Robinson III.
But there’s a reason the Suns signed the undrafted rookie, who showed flashes of defensive potential in his one year cut short at UNLV.
He’s also showed highlight-reel dunking abilities in the past few years to warrant his invite to the dunk contest.
Here is one person’s subjective list of his top dunks.
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It didn’t take long for Jones to make eyes widen. His second dunk in his D-League debut showed that the experienced dunk contest champion knows how to put on a show in games — and over the top of opponents.
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Here, Jones sneaks along the weakside baseline to grab a rebound over a would-be rebounder who didn’t see him coming.
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Jones makes a great cut down the middle of the lane as his teammate drives, and even though a defender is seemingly in position to defend a shot, the fact he’s cemented to the floor as Jones gets elevation so quickly makes that a pointless matter.
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Do not get in djones1___ way to the hoop! #UNLVmbb https://t.co/qbbPvuA6RH
— UNLV Basketball (@TheRunninRebels) November 17, 2015
Now we’re in NSFW territory. Jones’ best dunk during his season at UNLV came against a little-known school called New Mexico Highlands University. We know them now … for getting dunked on.
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And we give you the best in-game Derrick Jones dunk. It’s on top of a contesting defender, off a pretty bad pass (if this weren’t Derrick Jones Jr. we’re talking about), shows his crazy elevation and was finished off with his right hand. He’s a lefty.
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