Eddie Jones (basketball) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eddie Jones

Jones with the Miami Heat in 2007
Personal information
Born	(1971-10-20) October 20, 1971 (age 53) Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
High school	Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Florida)
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College	Temple (1991–1994)
NBA Draft	1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Pro career	1994–2008
Career history
1994–1999	Los Angeles Lakers
1999–2000	Charlotte Hornets
2000–2005	Miami Heat
2005–2007	Memphis Grizzlies
2007	Miami Heat
2007–2008	Dallas Mavericks
Career highlights and awards
3× NBA All-Star (1997, 1998, 2000) All-NBA Third Team (2000) 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1998–2000) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1995) NBA steals leader (2000) Atlantic 10 Player of the Year (1994) Robert V. Geasey Trophy winner (1994)
Career NBA statistics
Points	14,155 (14.8 ppg)
Rebounds	3,857 (4.0 rpg)
Steals	1,620 (1.7 spg)
Medals Men's Basketball Representing  United States FIBA U21 World Championship Gold 1993 Valladolid National team

Edward Charles Jones (born October 20, 1971) is a former American professional basketball player. He played for five teams during his 14 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Eddie Jones played college basketball at Temple University. He was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year in 1994. He also helped his college team, the Owls, reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. The Los Angeles Lakers picked him 10th overall in the 1994 NBA draft. He was a three-time NBA All-Star.

College Career

Eddie Jones played college basketball for Temple from 1991 to 1994. In his junior year, he led his team to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. This means they were one of the top eight teams in the national college championship.

In his final season with the Owls, he scored an average of 19.2 points per game. In 1994, he was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. This award goes to the best player in that college conference.

Professional Career

Los Angeles Lakers (1994–1999)

The Los Angeles Lakers chose Eddie Jones as the 10th pick in the 1994 NBA draft. The Lakers' general manager, Jerry West, said they wanted the best athlete available. He felt Eddie was too good to miss.

In his first year, Eddie played in 64 games and started 58 of them. He averaged 14.0 points and 2.05 steals per game. He was also named to the 1994–95 NBA All-Rookie First Team. This means he was one of the best new players in the league.

During the 1994–95 All-Star weekend, he won the MVP award in the Rookie Challenge. He scored 25 points, had 6 steals, and 4 rebounds. People compared his playing style to former Lakers star Michael Cooper.

The next year, Eddie became the team's main shooting guard. He started 66 of 70 games and averaged 12.8 points. The Lakers won 53 games that season. They made the playoffs but lost to the Houston Rockets.

After his second season, Eddie changed his jersey number from 25 to 6. The Lakers had retired number 25 for Gail Goodrich. He chose 6 because he admired Julius Erving growing up.

In the off-season, the Lakers got superstar center Shaquille O'Neal. They also traded for rookie guard Kobe Bryant. Eddie played and started in 80 games. He was second on the team in scoring with 17.2 points. He was also fourth in the league in steals with 2.4 per game.

He played in his first NBA All-Star Game in 1997. The Lakers won 56 games that year. They won their first playoff series but lost to the Utah Jazz.

In the 1997–98 season, Eddie averaged 16.9 points and 2 steals per game. He also played in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. His strong defense earned him a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. The Lakers won 61 games but were swept by the Jazz in the conference finals.

Charlotte Hornets (1999–2000)

The next season was shorter due to a league lockout. Eddie played 20 games for the Lakers before being traded. He and Elden Campbell went to the Charlotte Hornets in March 1999.

Eddie started 30 games for the Hornets that season. The Hornets did not make the playoffs. However, Eddie was second in the league in steals with 2.5 per game. He also made the All-Defensive team for the second year in a row.

The 1999–2000 NBA season was Eddie's best year for statistics. He averaged 20.1 points, 4.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. He led the league in total steals (192) and steals per game (2.7).

Eddie was chosen to start for the Eastern Conference in the 2000 NBA All-Star Game. The Hornets won 49 games and made the playoffs. They lost in the first round to the Philadelphia 76ers. At the end of the season, Eddie was named to the All-NBA Third Team. He also made his third straight All-Defensive second team.

After the 2000 season, Eddie became a free agent. He wanted to play for his hometown team, the Miami Heat.

Miami Heat (2000–2005)

After signing again with the Hornets, Eddie was traded to the Miami Heat. This trade was part of a plan by Heat coach Pat Riley to make the team a championship contender.

Before the 2000–01 season, the team's star center Alonzo Mourning was unable to play due to illness. This meant Eddie had to take on more of the team's scoring. He averaged 17.4 points per game and led the team in scoring.

Eddie and teammate Anthony Mason helped the team win 50 games. Mourning returned in March, but the Heat lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In the 2001–02 season, Eddie started 81 games and led the team in scoring again with 18.3 points. However, the Heat did not make the playoffs. Mourning's illness returned, and the team had to rebuild.

Eddie played in only 47 games in the 2002–03 season due to his own injuries. He still led the team in scoring with 18.5 points per game. In the off-season, the Heat made many changes. They drafted Dwyane Wade and got Lamar Odom.

Coach Pat Riley stepped down, and Stan Van Gundy took over. The 2003–04 season started with 0–7 losses, but it turned out well for Miami. Eddie shared the scoring with Wade, Butler, and Odom. He still led the team with 17.3 points per game.

Miami finished the season with a 42–40 record and made the playoffs. They beat the New Orleans Hornets in a tough 7-game series. Then they lost to the Indiana Pacers.

Before the 2004–05 season, Miami made big changes again. They traded Odom and Butler for Shaquille O'Neal, Eddie's former Lakers teammate. Eddie moved to small forward, and Wade became the starting shooting guard.

Eddie's scoring went down to 12.7 points per game. But he was still important for his three-point shooting. The team won 59 games and was the top team in the Eastern Conference. They also brought back Alonzo Mourning.

The Heat swept two teams in the playoffs. Then they faced the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons. Miami led the series 3–2, but Wade got injured. The Pistons won the last two games and the series. Eddie averaged 13.7 points in the playoffs.

Memphis Grizzlies (2005–2007)

Miami was sad to miss the NBA Finals. So, Pat Riley decided to trade Eddie Jones after five seasons. He was sent to the Memphis Grizzlies in a big trade involving five teams and thirteen players.

In his first season in Memphis, Eddie started 75 games. He averaged 11.8 points and 1.7 steals per game. The Grizzlies made the playoffs but were swept by the Dallas Mavericks. Eddie played 29 games the next year before the Grizzlies let him go in January 2007.

Return to Miami (2007)

On February 1, 2007, Eddie signed a contract to play for the Miami Heat again. He played more minutes after Dwyane Wade got a shoulder injury. The Heat had won the NBA title the year before. But they struggled with injuries and lost to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs.

Dallas Mavericks (2007–2008)

After the 2006–07 season, Eddie became a free agent. On August 3, 2007, he signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

On October 10, 2008, Eddie was traded to the Indiana Pacers. After the trade, his contract was changed. This allowed him to play for another team or retire. On October 16, 2008, the Pacers released him to free up money.

Media and Endorsements

Eddie Jones appeared in a funny Taco Bell commercial with other Lakers players. He also appeared in a commercial for Air Jordan shoes with Michael Finley.

Eddie was the cover athlete for the basketball video game NBA ShootOut '97. He was one of the first players to endorse Air Jordan shoes. Eddie also appeared on the TV show In the House.

In 2009, Eddie was on the Spike TV show Pros vs. Joes. He teamed up with his former Miami Heat teammates Alonzo Mourning and Antoine Walker.

Personal Life

Eddie Jones and his wife Trina have three children. Eddie is the cousin of Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Eddie Jones para niños

• List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association single-game steals leaders