Golden State selected 24-year-old forward LJ Jones, a Florida State player, with the No. 5 pick in the NBA draft overnight Wednesday to Thursday. The 2.01-meter forward may begin his pro career with the Warriors' G League team, although the club already sees him as a player who could earn real NBA minutes. Jones is the son of a former basketball player, has visited Israel several times, uses the Hebrew name Ari Jones, and highlights his Jewish identity on Instagram with an Israeli flag and a Star of David. He has also said he wanted to play in the Maccabiah, does not hold Israeli citizenship, and celebrates Jewish holidays.
Jones' path to the NBA was unusual. He started at tiny Tarleton State Texas as a reserve, spent one year at a junior college, then moved to St. Bonaventure, where former NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski once served as school administrator. There he averaged 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, before transferring this year to Florida State, where he flashed athleticism while struggling from three-point range, shooting 32.5 percent and posting 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and one block per game. He scored 28 points against Duke, which featured coach Jon Scheyer and Cam Boozer, the No. 3 pick in the draft.
The article says Jones is seen as an elite athlete with strong work habits who improved every year. He was among the players tested by Boston, and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic ranked him 99th before the draft, while Golden State took him at No. 54 in that projection. The Warriors have recently found value in unconventional picks such as Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post, players who quickly became rotation pieces because of off-ball movement and defensive disruption.
Jones' fit is tied to Golden State's system, which prizes switching, ball pressure and quick decision-making. At 104 kilograms, he can guard multiple positions, and his speed helps cover for a shorter wingspan. Offensively, he is strong as a cutter but still needs to create more for himself, so he could spend time in the G League next season to develop as a ball-handler. Even so, the Warriors' expensive payroll, including Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Draymond Green, could open minutes for cheaper second-round players. Jones has also said he would like to play for Israel if approached in the future, and the story notes he could eventually get a chance alongside Curry and Green.
