Last December, Crvena zvezda visited what was then the hottest team in the EuroLeague – Hapoel Tel Aviv.
The game came down to the final possessions, and the player who decided it with four points in the last 70 seconds was Chris Jones.
Seven months later, Jones signed a two-year contract with Crvena zvezda.
The general reaction among the club’s supporters could probably be summed up like this:
“A great signing. Just not as the starting point guard.”
The Scenic Route to the EuroLeague
The 33-year-old Texan took the scenic route to the EuroLeague, making his way through Switzerland and Turkey before establishing himself at the highest level of European basketball.
At 188 centimeters, Jones sometimes looks even smaller because of his low center of gravity and powerful upper body. That combination allows him to hold his own defensively, even after switching onto bigger players. He is not an elite defender, but he is far from the type of guard opponents relentlessly target in pick-and-roll situations.
During three seasons with Valencia—two of them in the EuroLeague—and before that with ASVEL, Jones established himself as one of the key players on every team he played for.
“Jones is an incredibly talented player,” former Valencia teammate Klemen Prepelič told SK Week. “He’s a natural scorer and can definitely be a team’s leader.”
A Modern Combo Guard
Jones is the definition of a modern combo guard. He can run an offense, but he is equally dangerous playing off the ball. Helping off him is rarely an option.
Last season with Hapoel, he averaged 10.0 points (51.9% on two-pointers, 42.3% from three), 2.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in just over 20 minutes per game. He was particularly impressive in the playoff series against Real Madrid.
With Vasilije Micić not enjoying his best season, Jones shouldered an even bigger share of the playmaking burden during what was often a complicated campaign for Hapoel.
“I loved playing with him because he constantly breaks down the defense. I think he’ll fit really well into Crvena zvezda’s team,” Prepelič added.
Built for Navarro’s System
Jones’ arrival should not be viewed simply as a replacement for Codi Miller-McIntyre. He is a different type of player, and under Ibon Navarro, Crvena zvezda is expected to look different offensively.
At the moment, Jones is the closest thing the roster has to a traditional point guard.
Tyson Carter is fully recovered after suffering a pulmonary embolism last season. A full preseason should help him regain his rhythm, especially considering he already knows Navarro’s system from their time together at Unicaja.
Jared Butler, meanwhile, now understands what playing in the EuroLeague demands. With a full season behind him, he should be better prepared both physically and mentally, while also taking another step forward tactically.
Jones is an excellent addition. And in Navarro’s system, where players rarely average more than 22 or 23 minutes per game, the debate over who is the “starting point guard” becomes much less important.
His age is the only real question mark, but so far Jones has shown no signs of physical decline or recurring injury problems.
Why One More Point Guard Is Still Needed
Still, Crvena zvezda will almost certainly look to add at least one more ball-handler before the season begins.
Perhaps a defense-first point guard. Perhaps more of an old-school floor general—not necessarily an elite shooter, but someone with outstanding vision and a high basketball IQ.
Alessandro Pajola and Tomáš Satoranský have both been mentioned in connection with the club. Zvezda has denied interest in Pajola despite reports in the Italian media, while Satoranský has openly spoken about his ongoing back issues following the ACB Finals.
Whoever eventually arrives, one thing already seems clear.
Chris Jones is a very good start.