NBA Draft Pick Lag'e Jones Shines in Italy, Eyes Israeli National Team
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
American Jewish basketball player Lag'e Jones, drafted by the Golden State Warriors, is excelling in his first season with Trieste in Italy's top league. Jones, whose mother is Israeli, has expressed a desire to play for the Israeli national team. He recently achieved a historic performance in Italy, scoring 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals in his team's first win of the season. Jones is averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in his initial four games.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Lag'e Jones, drafted by the Golden State Warriors, is starring for Trieste in Italy's top basketball league.
- Jones, who has Israeli heritage, aims to represent the Israeli national team.
- He recently recorded a historic performance with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals in his team's first win.
- Jones is averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in his first four professional games.
- He is the youngest player ever to achieve 20+ points, 13+ rebounds, and 6+ three-pointers in an Italian league game.
Lag'e Jones, a 22-year-old American Jewish guard/forward, drafted 54th overall by the Golden State Warriors, is making a significant impact in his first professional season in Italy's top league with Trieste. Jones, whose mother is Israeli and resides in Florida, has visited Israel and has family, including his grandfather, living there. His Hebrew name is Ari Jones, and he proudly displays his Jewish identity online with the Israeli flag and Star of David.
While Jones does not currently hold Israeli citizenship, he has indicated that obtaining it would be straightforward. In interviews, he expressed a desire to represent the Israeli national team and potentially the US team as well, stating, "I was born and raised in the US so I'll say I'm American and then Israeli, but my mother Navah is Israeli and I keep Jewish tradition." He has celebrated Jewish holidays and had a bar mitzvah.
Jones has quickly become a standout player for Trieste. In his fourth game on Sunday, he led the team to its first win of the season with an impressive performance of 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals, shooting 6/12 from three-point range. This followed strong showings in previous games, establishing him as the team's leading scorer.
Across his first four professional games, Jones is averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks per game, shooting nearly three three-pointers at 36.7%. His recent game was historic, making him the youngest player ever in the Italian league to record at least 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 three-pointers in a single game, a feat not seen in 17 years. Sports media have highlighted his record-breaking performance.
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