Pacers take Kam Jones at No. 38. What to know

[ad_1] After buying and selling out of the primary spherical final week to recoup their 2026 first-round decide, the Indiana Pacers added a second spherical decide (No. 38) on this 12 months's NBA draft to associate with the No. 54 choice they already had.

With that No. 38 decide, the Pacers took Marquette guard Kam Jones.

"I am simply able to get to Naptown and get to work," Jones informed ESPN's Monica McNutt after being chosen.

Jones is a participant able to dealing with the purpose past Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell who might nonetheless serve a function after Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles harm. Jones suits that invoice, having operated each as a taking pictures guard subsequent to Tyler Kolek after which a place to begin guard at Marquette.

Jones can create off the bounce for himself or for others, and is a wonderful passer and rim finisher. He averaged 17.2 factors per recreation as a junior, however then as a senior Kolek went to the NBA, Jones averaged 19.2 factors and 5.9 assists per recreation, career-highs in each classes. The 6-4, 185-pounder is a powerful defender, prepared to choose up ball-handlers full-court, and he averaged 1.4 steals per recreation as a senior.

This is what to know in regards to the Golden Eagles guard:

Kam Jones measurables Peak: 6-3

Weight: 202

Age: 23

Wingspan: 6-6

Kam Jones stats He averaged 19.2 factors per recreation, 5.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds a recreation this previous season for Marquette, whereas taking pictures 48.3% from the sector. He struggled from behind the arc final season (31.1%), however shot 40.6% from 3 as a junior.

Kam Jones scouting report ∎ He was ranked the No. 35 total prospect by The Ringer:

"In a world the place all people wants well-rounded guards who can simply play basketball, he’ll all the time have a house.

"Jones exploded out of the gate this previous season after which cooled a bit as time rolled on, in the end ending at simply 31.1 p.c from 3. That stated, he did sufficient in years one by way of three at Marquette to maintain him in consideration, particularly when you be aware of the truth that his total share this previous season was largely torpedoed by a rise in dribble pull-up 3s. Tyler Kolek’s desk setting and Oso Ighodaro’s screening and short-roll playmaking each moved on to the NBA final 12 months, eliminating two avenues of easy-peasy offense for Jones. Consequently, the respectable however not spectacular athlete needed to take harder pictures and was trusted considerably extra as a playmaker. With NBA expertise round him once more, Kam initiatives as a plug-and-play older guard who can chip in sparingly someplace in an prolonged rotation."

∎ Yahoo! Sports activities ranked Jones because the No. 43 total prospect.

"Jones provides artful combo guard abilities with superior shot creation and a blossoming playmaking really feel. However his so-so athleticism and streaky taking pictures paint him as only a cog quite than the uncommon star upperclassmen set to enter the league."