Next step for Kai Jones to get him ready to be a regular part of the Hornets’ rotation
.JPG "Charlotte Hornets forward Kai Jones (23) reacts after dunking the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)")
When the door opened slightly ajar over the past two weeks due to the number of players the Charlotte Hornets were missing, many figured Kai Jones was about to step in.
Unlike his fellow first-round rookie counterpart James Bouknight, though, Jones didn’t get much court time during that six-game stretch. He was summoned off the bench on just three occasions, the most notable coming in his surprising fourth-quarter duty in the Hornets’ win over Sacramento on Dec. 13.
As he waits in the background, the soon-to-be 21-year-old is doing things behind the scenes to ensure he’s progressing even though he’s not peeling off his warmups much these days.
“It’s been good,” Jones said. “It requires a lot of patience. You just wait your turn, stay in the gym and continue to work. That’s all it is, is just patience.”
Jones has logged action in only nine games this season, mostly appearing when the outcome was decided. Much of the extent of his development over the past few months has taken place in Greensboro while suiting up for the Hornets’ G League affiliate. He’s appreciative.
“It’s been huge for me, instrumental I’d say,” Jones said, “because playing time and experience is the best teacher. That’s how you learn the most. You can do all the drills and practicing, but when you actually get out on the floor and play against people, that’s where you get the most experience. So it’s been huge for me, yeah.”
That apparently is not changing in the immediate future.
Jones is bound for Las Vegas to play for Greensboro in the G League Winter Showcase, which runs from Dec. 19-22 at the Mandalay Bay. Before heading off for his latest stint with the Swarm, Jones spoke with The Observer about The Klutch Sports documentary he’s a part of, participating in the G League Showcase, how the coaching staff is helping him and more.
Roderick Boone: You are going to the G League Showcase. How do you think that is going to help you?
Kai Jones: I think it will help me out because I’ll be able to show the coaches and the organization that I know how to play the right way and help the team win. So just go down there and do the right things, help the team win.
RB: How has it been transitioning from all the hype you generated at summer league to having to be prepared whenever your name does get called to go into the game?
KJ: You just have to continue to trust your work, believe in yourself and know that things will work out in the end. I put in a lot of hours, so just try to stay positive, stay ready.,
RB: What have you noticed so far about the difference in the NBA game compared with summer league and even the preseason?
KJ: Probably the size. There’s more bigger guys than summer league, more 7-footers. I’ve seen a few more 7-footers. Just the size I’d say.
RB: You’ve spent a lot of time with the team on some of these lengthy road trips. What have you learned most about being a pro on the road?
KJ: On the road, it’s just about being organized, planning it out ahead of time. So when you pack for such long road trips, it’s much different than in college. That’s one thing I’ll say is different. Just the packing and the organization and the planning ahead of time that goes into it.
RB: What has it been like watching yourself on the “Klutch Academy” reality show on BET and what kind of feedback have you received about it?
KJ: Everybody is enjoying the show. I tuned in because we put a lot of hours into the show and it was very tedious, the process of recording all the stuff. So a lot of my free time was spent doing that. So I’m glad to see it coming out the way it’s coming out, and I’m really happy with it. They did a great job on the show, and I feel like they did a great job of showing the authenticity for everybody’s true story. Because that’s really everybody’s story. It’s really real, so I like it.
RB: There are times when you show your deep emotions, especially when speaking to your mother. How is watching that playback and knowing people are seeing your inner thoughts?
KJ: Yeah it’s my first time opening up to people in the public about that situation. I love my mom, and I was happy that she was able to get her visa. When we all lost our visas, that was a tough day. So it’s been good to bounce back.
RB: How did the idea for the show come about?
KJ: It’s something that (CEO) Rich (Paul) came up with. Before we started our pre-draft process he had mentioned to me that it was possibility it would be on BET. I honestly didn’t even think it would be out this soon and it came together so quickly. And it’s already been run. Boom, just like that. He mentioned it to me before the pre-draft and it came together pretty quickly.
RB: Have any of your teammates busted your chops about it?
KJ: Nah, because it is a good show and it’s our real process. It’s just basketball. I’m not doing nothing crazy on there. Probably like singing and dancing, maybe. But yeah, it’s just my life. So the teammates who watched it they say they enjoyed it. They like the way it’s coming out.
RB: You’ve spoken previously about how you were drawn to the Hornets’ family atmosphere during the pre-draft process. How has the coaching staff helped you prepare?
KJ: Yeah, they help me out in a huge way. They help me work on things that I haven’t worked on as much before, (until) when I got here. A lot of the fundamental stuff. Just polishing up areas of my game that are weaknesses. So that’s been huge. They kind of know like, ‘OK, Kai probably needs to work on this.’ So, I can tell they know what I need to work on when they put me through it. So I like it.
This story was originally published December 18, 2021 at 3:51 PM.
