Daniel Dunn, USA TODAY
Spurs Season-In-Review: PG Tre Jones in 'Good Position,' Still Looking to Improve
Carving out an NBA career is about as hard as getting into the league itself.
For San Antonio Spurs point guard Tre Jones, that was a challenge. Even coming from a Blue Blood like Duke, the rookie faced an uphill battle behind Derrick White, Bryn Forbes and Dejounte Murray.
His scoring ability was there, but Jones did not have the chance to breakout ... until this season.
On the season, the point guard tallied 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists — all nearly double his production last season — and worked his way into the Spurs' rotation throughout the season, also helping the rookies' development.
"I feel like I'm in a good position right now," Jones said. "I made a lot of strides this year. I've gotten a lot better in the areas that I wanted to. I was given [an] opportunity this year that you're not always given, so I'm very blessed to be [where I am]."
In almost every category, Jones showed improvement. His rebounding percentage increased on both ends, as did his scoring and passing. On the defensive end as well, Jones' steal and block totals increased to add to his well-rounded resume.
Where the third-year guard lacked the most was from behind the arc, shooting just under 30 percent on the season, which made that aspect of his game a big priority entering the offseason.
"Thats definitely an area that I've been working on throughout my entire career," Jones said. "It's one that I'll continue to work on [as well], especially with the way that basketball has [evolved]. The 3-point shot is the most important one in the game analytically."
"I don't really want to become one-dimensional," he added. "I want to make sure that I'm getting bigger and stronger to defend better. I want to continue to try to get more athletic, and improve my finishing around the rim. All areas to improve my game in any way possible."
Next season, Jones will be entering restricted free agency, and is likely to garner interest from teams around the league, especially ones in need of a point guard.
The Spurs may not be lacking in guards, but Jones' improvement is a sign of what is to come from the guard in the coming seasons — so his potential may very well be enough for the front office to keep him around.
But as far as Jones is concerned, he is not ready to leave San Antonio just yet.
"This summer will be a big one for us," Jones said. "A lot of guys will hang around San Antonio [and] be in the gym together ... [we'll] gel together and continue to grow. The older we get, the more experience we get ... and those things will go a long way."
You can follow Matt Guzman on Twitter.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Spurs? Click Here.
Follow Inside the Spurs on Twitter.
Follow Inside the Spurs on Facebook.
Want even more San Antonio Spurs news? Check out the Si.com team page here.
