Dillon Jones shooting for the Knicks against Washington
The Knicks have spent most of the summer figuring out how to keep a championship group together. Dillon Jones is not the biggest name in that conversation, but he may be one of the more useful ones.
Jones joined the Knicks on a two-way deal in January after a huge G League stretch. In 24 games with the Rip City Remix, he averaged 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.8 steals. Those are strong all-around numbers for a 6-foot-5 forward.
He carried some of that feel into Las Vegas. Jones had 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the Summer League win over Detroit. It is Summer League, so nobody needs to act like a rotation spot has been won. But it was the right kind of performance from a player trying to make himself useful.
Dillon Jones defending for the Knicks against Washington
Dillon Jones defends for the Knicks. Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Dillon Jones has a real NBA skill set
The Knicks forward is not a pure shooter or a traditional point guard. He is a strong, physical connector who can rebound, move the ball, and handle a little more than most wings at the back of a roster.
That profile matters for New York. Championship teams need players who can survive a random regular-season night without forcing the coaching staff to change everything. Jones can fill possessions, defend bigger bodies, and keep the ball moving.
The Knicks need to decide what they want from him
The question is not whether Jones is a star. It is whether the Knicks want a two-way player who can be trusted in short stints when injuries or rest days hit.
He has done enough to make that a legitimate discussion. A team trying to repeat cannot ignore useful depth because it is not glamorous. Jones has given New York a reason to keep pushing the evaluation.
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