By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-09-17 13:53:44
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2022年1月30日，周日，在菲尼克斯举行的一场NBA篮球比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫特雷·琼斯(33号)带球突破，菲尼克斯太阳队后卫克里斯·保罗(3号)和中锋俾斯麦·比永博(18号)防守。(美联社照片/马特·约克)
今年夏天，特雷·琼斯(Tre Jones)正和妻子享受周年纪念晚餐，这时消息传来：他将不再是马刺队的首发控球后卫。
球队刚刚签下了12届全明星球员克里斯·保罗，而他恰好是有史以来最伟大的控球后卫之一。
这一连串的短信提醒本可以破坏琼斯夫妇在圣安东尼奥当地一家牛排馆原本精致的晚餐。然而，它却为庆祝活动锦上添花。
“我当时的第一反应是极其兴奋，”24岁的琼斯最近在马刺队的训练馆训练后说道。“能够向这样一位划时代的控球后卫学习，我永远不会认为这是理所当然的。”
那些对琼斯失去首发位置却表现大度感到惊讶的人并不了解他。
这位前杜克大学的杰出球员自2020年以第二轮秀的身份加盟马刺队以来，一直是球队的模范球员。琼斯在他的四个赛季中首发了125场比赛，其中113场是在2022年6月马刺队交易走全明星球员德章泰·穆雷之后。
即便如此，马刺队似乎一直将琼斯视为首发阵容中的权宜之计。
今年6月，球队用4号签选中了康涅狄格大学球星斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)，希望他能成为琼斯的长期替代者。一周后，马刺队引进了保罗作为琼斯的短期替代者。
琼斯表示，他对马刺队在休赛期对控球后卫位置的操作既不感到困扰，也不感到失望。
“我从来没有想过这个问题，”琼斯说。“我的主要目标一直是赢得比赛。”
2024年3月9日，周六，在旧金山举行的一场NBA篮球比赛中，金州勇士队后卫克里斯·保罗(3号)在圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫特雷·琼斯(33号)的防守下寻找空位队友。(美联社照片/戈多弗雷多·A·巴斯克斯)
马刺队对保罗在下赛季帮助球队实现这一目标寄予了适度的期望，为他提供了一份为期一年、价值1050万美元的合同，希望他能为维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)的新秀赛季提供急需的老将经验。
从个人角度来看，琼斯相信保罗的到来只会帮助他在NBA职业生涯中更上一层楼——即使这意味着在本月晚些时候开始的训练营中，他将以替补身份出场。
“他是一个对比赛有着高水平思考的人，”琼斯说。“他曾效力于一些最优秀的球队，身边都是一些最伟大的球员。他进过总决赛，也经历过季后赛的关键时刻。能够从他那里汲取智慧，一整年都向他学习——我要充分利用这个机会。”
值得注意的是，保罗将在39岁时迎来他的第20个NBA赛季。在过去三个赛季效力于金州勇士队和菲尼克斯太阳队的比赛中，他每赛季的出场次数都没有超过65场。
因此，即使保罗在球队名单上，琼斯也能获得两位数的首发机会也并不奇怪。
“他已经打了20年了，随之而来的是大量的磨损，”琼斯说。“让他打满所有比赛是很困难的。这对我们任何人来说都很困难。”
也许在马刺队新任首发控球后卫的到来所掩盖的事实是，这位前首发控球后卫刚刚度过了一个职业生涯的巅峰赛季。
上赛季伊始，马刺队试图让琼斯留在替补席上，主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)尝试让身高6英尺8英寸的杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)——一名大前锋——担任首发控球后卫。
结果并不理想。
到11月，波波维奇将二年级球员马拉基·布拉纳姆(Malaki Branham)提为首发控球后卫。他甚至让老将塞迪·奥斯曼(Cedi Osman)尝试了一场比赛。
迫于无奈，马刺队最终在一月初求助于琼斯来拯救他们。
琼斯最终场均得到10分和全队最高的6.2次助攻。更重要的是，马刺队22场胜利中有17场是在他首发的情况下取得的。
面对球队似乎一直在寻找他这个位置的升级人选，琼斯只能耸耸肩。这个问题超出了他的工资等级。
“这就是现在的篮球比赛，”琼斯说。“有很多球员控球很多。有时你会看到一个7英尺5英寸的家伙运球。你必须确保自己在任何时候都做好准备，尽可能地帮助球队。”
尽管如此，琼斯在上赛季还是展现了自己的价值，他提供了一些球队其他球员无法提供的东西。
“现在真正的控球后卫不多了，”他说。“我必须确保自己继续承担起这个角色。”
马刺队增加了NBA现役助攻王保罗，使更衣室里典型的纯控球后卫人数增加了一倍。
他们还选中了卡斯尔，希望他在保罗离开后能接过控球后卫的衣钵。
琼斯多少有点夹在中间，他既是其中一个人的潜在导师，又是另一个人的徒弟。
身高6英尺6英寸的卡斯尔预计将在马刺队的替补席上开始他的NBA生涯，作为一名得分后卫打无球。俱乐部预计卡斯尔有朝一日会成为球队的首发控球后卫。
琼斯渴望帮助他实现目标。
“最让我印象深刻的是他的比赛节奏，”琼斯在谈到这位19岁的球员时说。“他按照自己的节奏打球，从不着急。他不会太兴奋，也不会太沮丧。他总是保持冷静。这就是他的比赛方式。”
对琼斯来说，他将迎来自己的第五个NBA赛季——合同年——夹在他这个位置上马刺队的现在和未来之间。
他欢迎来自保罗和卡斯尔的竞争，也欢迎他们的帮助。
“我们上个赛季没有赢很多比赛，但在这个过程中学到了很多东西，”琼斯说。“我们觉得我们离我们想去的地方又近了一步。”
当然，与文班亚马的第一个赛季相比，马刺队在他的第二个赛季将拥有更多可行的控球后卫选择。
如果这能带来胜利的增加呢？琼斯明年夏天将有更多值得庆祝的事情。
2024年4月9日，周二，在田纳西州孟菲斯举行的一场对阵孟菲斯灰熊队的NBA篮球比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫特雷·琼斯(33号)在上半场控球。(美联社照片/布兰登·迪尔)
2024年4月10日，周三，在俄克拉荷马城举行的一场NBA篮球比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫特雷·琼斯(33号)在下半场越过俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫约什·吉迪(3号)投篮。(美联社照片/凯尔·菲利普斯)
克里斯·保罗，自由球员，在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签署了一年合同，在2024年7月9日于德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥举行的马刺队新闻发布会上，他在交易宣布后不久向媒体发表讲话。
克里斯·保罗，自由球员，在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签署了一年合同，在2024年7月9日于德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥举行的马刺队新闻发布会上，他在交易宣布后不久向媒体发表讲话。
克里斯·保罗，自由球员，在为金州勇士队效力后与圣安东尼奥马刺队签署了一年合同，在2024年7月9日于德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥举行的马刺队新闻发布会上，他在交易宣布后不久向媒体发表讲话。
点击查看原文：Spurs' Tre Jones proud to back up Chris Paul
Spurs’ Tre Jones proud to back up Chris Paul
San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (33) drives as Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and center Bismack Biyombo (18) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Tre Jones was enjoying an anniversary dinner with his wife over the summer when the news came down: He would no longer be the Spurs’ starting point guard.
The team had just signed 12-time All-Star Chris Paul, who just so happens to be one of the greatest of all time at the position.
The text alerts could have soured the Jones’ otherwise exquisite dinner at a local San Antonio steakhouse. Instead, it only added to the celebration.
“It was extreme excitement right away,” the 24-year-old Jones said after a recent workout in the Spurs’ practice gym. “To be able to learn from a generational point guard like that, it’s something I’ll never take for granted.”
Those surprised at Jones’ magnanimous reaction to losing his starting gig don’t know Jones.
The former Duke standout has been ever the good solider for the Spurs since arriving as a second-round pick in 2020. Jones has started 125 games in his four seasons with the club, 113 of them since the Spurs traded away All-Star Dejounte Murray in June of 2022.
Even so, the Spurs have long seemed to view Jones as a stopgap option in the starting five.
In June, the team went out and drafted what it hopes to be Jones’ long-term replacement, using the No. 4 pick to select Connecticut star Stephon Castle. A week later, the Spurs brought in Jones’ short-term replacement in Paul.
Jones says he was neither bothered nor disappointed at the Spurs’ offseason machinations at point guard.
“That thought never crossed my mind,” Jones said. “My main thing has been just wanting to win games.”
Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul (3) looks for an open teammate while defended by San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The Spurs placed a modest bet Paul will help accomplish that next season, offering him a one-year, $10.5-million contract to supply an extra-strength dose of the veteran know-how lacking from Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season.
From a personal standpoint, Jones believes Paul’s presence can only help him take the next step in his NBA career – even if it means beginning training camp later this month as a backup.
“He’s a guy who thinks the game at such a high level,” Jones said. “He’s been on some of the best teams and been around some of the greatest to play the game. He’s gone to the Finals. He’s been in huge moments in the playoffs. Just being able to pick his brain and learn from him all year – I’m going to take full advantage of that.”
It is worth noting Paul is entering his 20th NBA season at age 39. He has not appeared in more than 65 games in any of the past three seasons, spent with Golden State and Phoenix.
As such, it would not be surprising for Jones to find his way into a double-digit number of starts even with Paul on the payroll.
“He’s in Year 20 and there’s a lot of wear and tear that comes with that,” Jones said. “It’s going to be tough for him to play all the games. It would be tough for any of us.”
Perhaps obscured in the arrival of the Spurs’ new starting point guard is the fact the former starting point guard is coming off something of a career year.
The Spurs tried to keep Jones tethered to the second unit to open last season, with coach Gregg Popovich beginning the campaign experimenting with 6-foot-8 Jeremy Sochan – a power forward by trade – as the starting point guard.
It did not go particularly well.
By November, Popovich shifted to second-year pro Malaki Branham as the starting point guard. He even gave journeyman Cedi Osman a one-game crack at it.
Out of necessity, the Spurs eventually turned to Jones to bail them out in early January.
Jones ended up averaging 10 points and a team-best 6.2 assists. More importantly, the Spurs notched 17 of their 22 victories with him the starting lineup.
Faced with the fact the organization has seemed in constant search of an upgrade at his position, Jones can only shrug. The question is above his paygrade.
“That’s just the game of basketball right now,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of guys who are handling the ball a lot. You’ve got a 7-5 guy bringing the ball up sometimes. You’ve got to continue to make sure you’re ready at any moment and help the team out as much as you can.”
Still, Jones showcased his worth last season, providing something nobody else on the roster could.
“There aren’t a lot of true point guards out there,” he said. “I’ve got to make sure I continue to make sure I take on that role.”
The Spurs doubled the number of quintessential true point guards in their locker room by adding Paul, the NBA’s career active assists leader.
In Castle, they also drafted the player they hope will seize the lead guard reins after Paul is gone.
Jones is caught somewhat in the middle, a potential mentor to one and a mentee of the other.
The 6-foot-6 Castle is expected to begin his NBA career with Jones on the Spurs’ second unit, playing off the ball as a shooting guard. The club projects Castle to one day become the team’s starting point guard.
Jones is eager to help him get there.
“The thing that stuck out the most to me is the pace he plays with,” Jones said of the 19-year-old. “He plays at his own pace and never gets sped up. He doesn’t get too high, too low. He stays in the middle all the time. That’s kind of how his play is.”
For his part, Jones is set to face his fifth NBA season – a contract year – wedged between the Spurs’ present and future at his position.
He welcomes the competition from Paul and Castle, as well as the help.
“We didn’t win a lot of games last year, but there was a lot of learning along the way,” Jones said. “We feel like we’re a step closer to where we want to be.”
Certainly, the Spurs will have more workable options at point guard in Wembanyama’s second season than his first.
And if that leads to an uptick in wins? Jones will have even more to celebrate next summer.
San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (33) handles the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (33) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddy (3) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
Chris Paul, is a free agent player and signed a one year contract with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Golden State Warriors, was seen making remarks to the members of the press during a press conference held by the Spurs franchise shortly after the trade was announced on July 9, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News