Kam Jones may have slid in the 2025 NBA draft from where he was predicted to get picked back in February but he is in the NBA nonetheless. The best part of it is that the Marquette Golden Eagles alum was picked by a team – the Indiana Pacers – where he will be encouraged and given the opportunity to excel.
Kam Jones, Marquette Golden Eagles
Marquette guard Kam Jones (1) scores on Georgetown forward Drew Fielder (20) during the first half of their game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Pacers lost their starting center Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks but another big issue they need to deal with is the replacement for Tyrese Haliburton who will be out for a year.
Haliburton, who punished teams in the playoffs with his clutch plays, tore his Achilles in the first quarter of the Game 7 of the NBA finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, ending what would have been personal magical run.
He has started his rehab but he won’t be back until the playoffs or maybe later.
Myles Turner, Tyrese Haliburton
Mar 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) and center Myles Turner (33) celebrate the win over Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The free agency movements have commenced and the Pacers are relatively quiet when it comes to their search for a player who will fill the shoes to left by their All-Star. The only news about them making moves is about looking for replacement for Turner.
Kam Jones may be next in line
Jones has a golden opportunity to show what he can do and an NBA analysts think he will get significant minutes in his rookie season.
“The big question for Indiana is how they plan to replace Tyrese Haliburton, who is likely to miss all of the 2025-26 season with an Achilles injury,” Clutch Points’ Brett Siegel wrote.
Marquette Golden Eagles star Kam Jones
Marquette guard Kam Jones (1) is shown after St. John’s made a basket as time expires during overtime of their game Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. St. John’s beat Marquette 86-84 in overtime.
“Indiana did select Kam Jones from Marquette in the second round of the NBA Draft, and there is a path to him seeing key minutes early in his rookie campaign next to TJ McConnell and Andrew Nembhard in the backcourt.”
The closest move they are making to fill the guard corps is signing Japanese star Keisei Tominaga to a summer league deal.
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