The New Orleans Pelicans are locking down their best defender.
The Pelicans and Herb Jones agreed to a three-year, $68 million contract extension, according to a report from ESPN Insider Shams Charania.
Jones now has a total of five years and $97 million on his deal with the Pelicans. He has a player option on the deal in 2029-’30.
Jones, a second-round draft pick in 2021, has become one of the top defensive players in the league.
He earned first-team honors on the All- Defensive team in the 2023-24 season.
The Pelicans ranked sixth in the NBA in points allowed per 100 possessions that season and the season before, thanks in part to the defensive presence of Jones.
Jones led the Pelicans in steals (105) and ranked second in blocks (62) that year. Nearly one-fourth of his blocked shots (15) were rejections of opponents’ 3-point attempts.
He is one of only four players in New Orleans franchise history to make an All-Defensive team; Chris Paul, Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis are the others.
Jones was limited this season after suffering a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder in January. He underwent shoulder surgery in February.
“Herb loved being with his teammates right up to that point (of the surgery),” coach Willie Green said in February. “We’re sending him our prayers for a speedy recovery. He is one of the pillars of our team and one of our leaders, so we want him to heal quickly and progress as he goes through this.”
Joe Dumars, the Pelicans’ new executive vice president of basketball operations, didn’t give a timetable on Jones’ return when asked in May. But Dumars said Jones is on schedule.
Jones, who starred at the University of Alabama, played in just 20 games this season.
Jones missed 18 games earlier in the season when he injured his shoulder while diving for a loose ball against the Golden State Warriors in late October. He returned and played 16 games before the season-ending injury against the Portland Trail Blazers in January.
Jones averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists this season.
For his career, he’s averaged 10.1 points 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
Since he came into the league in 2021, he is one of just eight players in the league with 350 steals and 150 blocks.