Kam Jones leads the pack of aspiring young players hoping to land a spot with the Indiana Pacers as the Marquette Golden Eagles’ former star gets named in the team’s Summer League squad.
Kam Jones, Marquette Golden Eagles
Feb 8, 2025; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles guard Kam Jones (1) warms up before the game against the Creighton Bluejays at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
The 23-year-old rookie was selected 38th overall in the draft via the San Antonio Spurs and landed with the Pacers where analysts thinks he can thrive.
The team will be without Tyrese Haliburton for most of the 2025-26 season and they will need a point guard reliever while waiting for him.
Indiana may have lost Myles Turner in the free agency, a move that got them F grades from critics but at least they got an A for drafting Jones.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton gave the Pacers an A for drafting the Golden Eagles alum suggesting that it is a direct answer to what they really need.
Tyrese Haliburton
Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts after suffering an injury during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
He wrote:
The Pacers have made one of my favorite second-round picks two years in a row. Unlike 2024 second-rounder Johnny Furphy, who played sparingly as a rookie at age 20, the 23-year-old Jones has more potential to contribute immediately. Indiana could use the guard help with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined after his heartbreaking Achilles rupture during Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Kam Jones get JJ Barea comparison
Jones already has the credentials through his last season with Marquette where analysts and his own coach Shaka Smart saw how he improved in many facets of the game.
What’s left for him is to prove himself on the court. Even analysts think he has the potential and got compared to an NBA champion whose career spanned eight years/
Ben Pfeiffer is comparing him to undersized point guard JJ Barea for his ability to impact the game through a diverse scoring arsenal.
J.J. Barea
Mar 11, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) dribbles as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) defends during the second quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
here’s my quick scouting report of kam jones, who i absolutely love for indiana at 38 as a future rotation guard who does a bit of everything: pic.twitter.com/MAdnL5O7IO
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) June 27, 2025
But like Barea, his size might be an issue.
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