Herbert Jones Bio
Herbert Keyshawn Jones (born October 6, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 205 pounds, he plays as a versatile wing known for his defensive impact and team-first approach. After starring at the University of Alabama, Jones was selected 35th overall in the 2021 NBA draft and quickly developed into one of the league’s most respected perimeter defenders.
Jones earned third-team All-American honors in 2021 and was named the SEC Player of the Year in the same season. He has since added NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2022) and NBA All-Defensive First Team (2024) recognition to his résumé, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the Pelicans’ rotation.
Early Life and Background
Herbert Keyshawn Jones was born on October 6, 1998, in Greensboro, Alabama. He is the son of Walter Sr. Jones and Verlander Jones, and his older brother, Walter Jr., also pursued basketball at the collegiate level, playing for Texas–Rio Grande Valley and Alabama A&M. Jones was born with hemolytic anemia, a condition he managed while growing up and developing his game in rural Alabama.
Jones began playing varsity basketball as a seventh-grader at Sunshine High School in Newbern, Alabama, where his father Walter Sr. served as the head coach. Playing alongside his older brother, he helped the team reach the Class 1A state finals in 2015, just before the school closed its doors.
For his junior season, Jones transferred to Hale County High School in nearby Moundville, Alabama, following his father, who took an assistant coaching role there. As a senior, he averaged 16.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and four assists, earning Class 4A Player of the Year honors. He led Hale County to the 4A state championship, the program’s first-ever state title, before committing to play college basketball at Alabama over offers from Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Florida.
Path to Basketball
Jones arrived at the University of Alabama as a developmental wing and steadily improved across his four seasons. As a freshman, he averaged 4.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game and set a single-season program record by drawing 23 charges, an early sign of the defensive instincts that would later define his NBA career. In his sophomore year, he raised his scoring average to 6.4 points while continuing to provide rebounding and perimeter defense.
His junior campaign was disrupted on January 29, 2020, when he suffered a fractured left wrist during a game against LSU. Jones underwent surgery three days later and returned on February 12 wearing a cast, then recorded six points and 17 rebounds in an 88–82 win over LSU, sinking two clutch free throws using only his right hand. As a junior, he averaged 7.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists and earned SEC All-Defensive Team recognition.
Jones initially declared for the 2020 NBA draft but withdrew and returned for his senior season. That year he elevated his game to 11.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, sweeping the SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards from the league’s coaches. On April 8, 2021, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft and forwent his remaining college eligibility.
Herbert Jones Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Jones was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft with the 35th overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans. He quickly earned a rotation role thanks to his defensive versatility, showing he could guard multiple positions on the perimeter. On December 28, 2021, he scored a then career-high 26 points in a 108–104 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, signaling his offensive upside.
He continued to make his mark on the defensive end, recording a career-high six steals on March 27, 2022, in a 116–108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. His two-way contributions as a rookie earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
NBA Breakthrough (2022–2024)
In his second and third seasons, Jones grew into a full-time starter and a key piece of the Pelicans’ wing rotation. On April 5, 2023, he erupted for a career-high 35 points, knocking down five three-pointers and showing the shooting growth the Pelicans had hoped to see.
On May 21, 2024, Jones was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, becoming the only non-center on the squad. The selection cemented his reputation as one of the league’s most disruptive perimeter defenders and validated the Pelicans’ long-term investment in him.
New Orleans Pelicans Era (2024–Present)
Jones made 20 starts for New Orleans during the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists while continuing to anchor the team’s perimeter defense. On January 10, 2025, however, he was ruled out indefinitely after suffering a torn posterior labrum in his right shoulder. He underwent successful surgery and was shut down for the remainder of the season on February 12.
On July 14, 2025, Jones agreed to a three-year, $68 million contract extension with New Orleans, reflecting the franchise’s belief in him as a building block. The deal keeps him under contract with the Pelicans through the 2027–28 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jones is best known for his defensive IQ, length and willingness to embrace physical assignments, including drawing charges and switching across positions. Offensively, he has evolved from a catch-and-shoot wing into a capable connective passer and secondary scorer, complementing star teammates with smart cuts and timely threes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments are the 35-point outburst against Cleveland on April 5, 2023, and his All-Defensive First Team selection in 2024 as the only non-center honored. His senior-season sweep of SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 also stands as a career-defining college milestone.
Herbert Jones Career Wins
Jones’s win totals are best understood through individual accolades and team milestones rather than championship rings. At the high school level, he led Hale County to the 4A state championship in 2017. At Alabama, he earned SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, and in the NBA he has added All-Rookie Second Team (2022) and All-Defensive First Team (2024) honors.
NBA Highlights
Jones has steadily accumulated individual recognition since arriving in New Orleans, including the 2021–22 All-Rookie Second Team nod and the 2023–24 All-Defensive First Team selection. He has posted multiple career highs with the Pelicans, including 26 points as a rookie and 35 points in 2023.
Other Wins & Performances
At the collegiate level, Jones earned third-team All-American honors and a pair of SEC individual awards in 2021. In high school, he guided Hale County to its first-ever state title while taking home Class 4A Player of the Year honors as a senior.
Herbert Jones Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Jones is the son of Walter Sr. Jones and Verlander Jones, and he grew up in Greensboro, Alabama. His father, Walter Sr., coached high school basketball and helped shape Herbert’s defensive fundamentals and team-first mentality. His older brother, Walter Jr., played college basketball at Texas–Rio Grande Valley and Alabama A&M.
Personal Life
Jones was born with hemolytic anemia, a blood disorder he has managed throughout his life. After being drafted by the Pelicans, he became known for driving the same car he had during college, a reflection of his upbringing and his effort to save money to help his family financially while wearing team gear to every game.
2025 Season Performance
Jones entered the 2024–25 NBA season as a starting wing and one of the defensive cornerstones of the Pelicans. He made 20 starts, averaging 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists while continuing to log heavy minutes against opposing scorers, reinforcing his value on that end of the floor.
His season was cut short on January 10, 2025, when he was diagnosed with a torn posterior labrum in his right shoulder and ruled out indefinitely. After undergoing successful surgery, Jones was officially shut down for the remainder of the year on February 12, a major setback for both the player and the Pelicans’ defensive identity.
Despite the injury, Jones’s long-term outlook received a significant boost on July 14, 2025, when he agreed to a three-year, $68 million contract extension with New Orleans. The deal underscores the franchise’s commitment to him as a foundational piece heading into 2025–26, when he is expected to return to full health and reclaim his role as the team’s top perimeter defender.