Report: Tyus Jones Chose Suns Over Hawks, Grizzlies

According to NBA reporter John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports, Tyus Jones chose the Phoenix Suns over the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies. 

Jones signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Suns. He will be the team’s starting point guard next to All-Stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. 

A Duke product, Jones averaged 12.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks this past season for the Washington Wizards while shooting 48.9% from the field, 41.4% from beyond the arc and 80.0% from the free-throw line.  

Jones, 28, has career averages of 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.1 blocks with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Grizzlies and Wizards. He was the 24th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

The Suns went 49-33 in 2023-24 but were swept in the first round of the 2024 playoffs by the Timberwolves.  

Phoenix fired Frank Vogel after one season and hired Mike Budenholzer, who won the 2021 title with the Milwaukee Bucks against the Suns in six games. 

Durant told NBA reporter Marc J. Spears of Andscape that he’s looking forward to next season. 

“I’m excited about the season, Bud, his staff, our team,” Durant told Andscape. “We’re getting another year to just get comfortable with one another. Also, we have been underestimated so far this summer since the season ended with a sweep. We deserve to be underestimated as a team, but I’d like that we’ll be able to play a more chip on our shoulders coming in here next [season] to prove some people different.”

Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks in 2023-24 for the Suns. The two-time NBA champion will make $49.9 million next season.

Booker and Durant are playing for Team USA at the Paris Olympics. 

“I love representing the United States,” Durant told Andscape. “You go around the world and you talk to people from different countries and you see how interested they are to know what our culture is like in the United States.”