Chris Jones

basketball and golf

[The Players’ Tribune @PlayersTribune]

Keldon Johnson on his role with the @spurs: “I remember a couple years ago, I had a hard conversation with Pop. One morning, we were getting ready to play Dallas, and he pulled me to the side and told me that he thought it would be best for the team if I started coming off the bench. I said, ‘Yeah, of course. Whatever’s best for the team, I’ll do it.’ And I truly meant that, too.

But I’m also just human, man. And I was like 24 years old. If I said that I fully bought into this role from the jump, I’d be lying. I had averaged 22 points in the NBA. I’d won a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics. So I just didn’t understand. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. And ultimately, I didn’t take it well. I sulked. I let the outside noise affect my play. I didn’t present the best version of myself as I was coming off the bench for the rest of that season. And I knew that I was much better than that.

I’ve been reflecting on that part of my journey a lot lately, with the position we’re in right now.

To backtrack a little bit…. When I was drafted in 2019, that was probably one of the most stressful nights of my life. I’d had a great year at Kentucky, and I thought I was going 9 or 10. In my mind, my floor was 15 to Detroit. The crazy thing is, I didn’t even work out for San Antonio. We talked a little bit on FaceTime, but I honestly didn’t think I’d still be on the board at 19 when the Spurs picked. Definitely not at 29, where I ended up going. I don’t know why I slipped so much, but thank God I did, because I landed at a proven organization with vets who could mold me.

That situation could have gone one of two ways. Thankfully, it went the good way.

Dejounte was young, too, but he knew the ropes better than me, and he made sure that I did everything the right way. I can’t thank him enough to this day for how much he’s helped my career. Same thing with DeMar DeRozan. Those guys really embraced me and took me under their wing as a young guy, and showed me how it was done. I feel like I had such a great group of vets, whether it was LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills, Rudy Gay — all those guys went out their way to make sure I was solid. I feel like they knew how good I could be before I even knew how good I could be. They didn’t let me skip any steps, which was huge for my career early on.

And yeah, fast-forward to summer 2024, and I got to thinking back on my first couple years here in San Antonio, and how I could get that spark back, get back to being me. That’s when I started to see the bigger picture. We had picks. There were all these signs that we were building something that was gonna be special, all these bright green flags.

But there was this one red flag.

Me.

In that moment, I had to take a hard look in the mirror. And man, I just got embarrassed. I hated that feeling — the feeling that I had let my vets down, and especially let my younger teammates down.

This organization believed in me since day one, when Pop and our GM at the time R.C. Buford took a leap of faith on a player who was sliding in the draft and didn’t even have a workout at their facility. They had a plan, and I was a big piece of that plan. I just needed to get out of my own way. Period.

I knew that I could either be the person who tries to fight the change, who makes it about them and their ego, and tries to do everything their way (which never really works). Or, I could trust the process. And the Spurs never gave me a reason not to trust it. So I bought into my role, and I put my best foot forward each and every night. Whatever I had to do to be the best version of myself, I did it. And I feel like this season has been a testament to that.

I’m just really at home here. I think that’s probably obvious, right? The cowboy hat isn’t a gimmick. San Antonio is all me. Being a country boy, that’s just a part of who I am. From Huntington Prep to Oak Hill Academy to Kentucky, I feel like I just carried that country boy vibe with me everywhere I went.” https://t.co/WnVP4cXPll

[Chris Jones @chrisjonesrams]

@PicksOffice This is not a game

[Chris Jones @chrisjonesrams]

@bulliespicks MLB

[Chris Jones @chrisjonesrams]

@haccarlson @Justintohoops You tell them!!

[Chris Jones @chrisjonesrams]

@midmajortapes Don’t anybody think he could make 3s…that was a fluke!😎😎😎

[Luke Evangelist @lukeevangelist_]

Bucky McMillan should win SEC Coach of the Year.

He was the last power conference head coach hired, had 0 scholarship players on the roster, and was 2 weeks late to the portal.

Last in the SEC in returning production (1.7%)
Picked to finish 13th in the preseason.
Finished 11-7 and in a tie for 4th place.

No team exceeded their preseason projected finish by more than A&M, who jumped up 9 spots.

With 14 new players, most of the roster got here by June but they had multiple preseason injuries. A&M didn’t have their first practice together as a completely healthy team until December 3rd. Then they played only 3 games together before losing Mackenzie Mgbako, their best player and a projected NBA Draft pick, for the season to a fractured foot.

They entered SEC play with 34% odds to make the NCAA Tournament according to Torvik.

@JonRothstein and @ryanhammer09 saw the vision, picking A&M as their sleeper team in the SEC, but this team was mostly ignored by the national media until their 7-1 start.

February wasn’t pretty, but they rallied to win 4 of their last 6 games and fight their way into the NCAA Tournament and tie for fourth place in the toughest league in the country.

They’re the shortest team in the league, have one player in their top 8 rotation taller than 6-foot-7, have just one player averaging over 12 PPG, and no elite one on one defenders. Yet they found a way to win 11 games and finish with a top 3 defense in the SEC, per KenPom. That’s a well-coached, bought in team.

Someone please find me a better story and a better coaching job than a team most people thought would win 4 games in the SEC losing their best player and still finishing at the top of the league.

You can’t find one. Bucky McMillan should be your 2026 Coach of the Year in the SEC...

And it’s not even close 👍

[KSL Sports Rewind @KSLSportsRewind]

If you live in the state you are fully aware of the 'lake effect'.

In the 3rd quarter of the Woods Cross-Highland Quarterfinal you were introduced to the 'Lee Effect'.

Grady Lee went for 10 points in the 3rd quarter alone helping the Rams create a lead they would never look back from!

@kslsports @TABBank @oberholtzerjo @IsaiahDrisdom @BodieDodge @sorenries

[Chris Jones @chrisjonesrams]

Poor guy…has only 2 HR since June 23

[Nati Sports @Nati_Sports]

Elly is now one more hitless PA away from being sub .800 OPS

Been a really rough last month for him.

[Beck A. Taylor @BeckTaylor]

Hit the links today with Samford MBB legend Rylan Jones! #GoBulldogs #AllForSAMford

[Rylan Jones @rylanjones15]

The 🐐 of Presidents ! Made my two years at Samford unbelievable ! @SamfordMBB @SamfordU are extremely lucky to call him their President

[Chris Jones @chrisjonesrams]

⁦@rylanjones15⁩ ⁦@BuckyBasketball⁩ Wow!
So thankful for these 2 who believed in each other at a surreal level!! The trust was pure and unwavering! College hoops is not for the faint of heart! The Waffle House talks between these 2 was special! Epic relationship!

[Chris Jones @chrisjonesrams]

The Horse!

[Tyler Newbold @TylerNewbold]

I want to thank @PaysonLions for the wonderful honor of going into the Payson athletics hall of fame today. Super humbling day and very appreciative.

[Matt St. Charles @matt_stcharles]

“When they ask where I played college basketball, I’ll say I’m a Samford Bulldog.”

@rylanjones15’s path took him from Utah to @SamfordMBB—then right back to Salt Lake City last season. After a magical run last year, he’s back for one more go. What brought him back? Read his story here⬇️

🔗: https://t.co/cRKOEhBKWL

[Chris Jones @chrisjonesrams]

@MLB Thank you Joesph Daniel Votto! You were pure pleasure to watch!

[MLB @MLB]

Joey Votto has announced his retirement via his Instagram after 17 seasons, six All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, and 2010 NL MVP honors. 👏

[Chris Jones @chrisjonesrams]

@MLB Thank you Joesph Daniel Votto! You were pure pleasure to watch!

[Samford Scoop @SamfordScoop]

Last week on @stateofthedogs we talked with Samford PG Rylan Jones. Rylan walked us through the waiver process and the long wait for that 6th year. ⬇️

Go watch/listen our full interview on YouTube, Apple, & Spotify. Links in the story.

https://t.co/aiFj9t3n3D

[Utah HS Basketball News @UtahBball_net]

2026 PG @IsaiahDrisdom continues to see his stock rise playing for @Team_Utahbb on the @NxtProHoops and @PRO16League circuit

3 level scorer with tight handles and outstanding vertical quickness and control.

Terrific on ball defender who moves his feet well and uses his strength to keep lead guards from getting where they want

He hold offers from Cal, Portland, and Ok City University and is receiving interest from schools in the Big 12, Mountain West, and Conference USA as well.

He will be in the PRO16 tournament next week in Phoenix

@TimothyDrisdom @chrisjonesrams @Derek__Murray

[Samford Scoop @SamfordScoop]

Working like me today? Go listen to our interview with Samford PG Rylan Jones.

Can hear what a @BuckyBasketball practice is really like and if you come to Samford on a visit, you’re going to eat great.

Also on Apple/Spotify.

[Chris Jones @chrisjonesrams]

Thanks to @Section7Az for the amazing opportunity to play great teams from the West Coast! Blessed to play in front of college coaches!
Highland Rams ( Utah ) went 3-1 and really improved!