The Oklahoma City Thunder were high on Dillon Jones for years before the young player entered the NBA draft.
General manager Sam Presti was determined to ensure Jones landed in OKC, so much so that the Thunder traded five future second-round picks to the New York Knicks to secure the services of the Weber State product.
Now, Jones is under pressure to prove these picks were not wasted. But his journey to stardom may require a stop in the NBA’s development league.
G League superstar?
For Jones and most late first-round picks, the G League is a great place to begin assimilating to the next level. Dillon’s first test will be with the Oklahoma City Blue, a team that won the G League title last season and will look to defend it in the 2024-25 campaign.
With the 6-foot-5 guard in the mix, the Blue have an additional playmaker, and Jones has a real shot to make some noise.
In a recent article in USA Today’s ThunderWire, writer Clemente Almanza gave three bold predictions for the Thunder’s No. 26 overall pick. While it may take some time for the rookie guard to reach his true potential, he can accelerate his path to stardom with a strong start with the Blue.