Minnesota Timberwolves rookie point guard Tyus Jones wasn’t getting much run with the Wolves, so the team decided to send him to the Development League to, well, develop.
Similar moves have paid off in the past. An example would be Shabazz Muhammad.
After game one, it appears the same will be true for Jones. His Idaho Stampede team lost 102-96 on Wednesday night, but Jones was spectacular. The former Duke point guard finished with a game-high 27 points to go with eight assists, six rebounds, a steal and a block in 36 minutes. He shot 11-for-22 from the field, 3-for-9 from the 3-point line and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.
Jones will get a day off before Idaho hosts the Bakersfield Jam on Friday. The game will start at 8 p.m. and can be streamed live on YouTube.
You can watch highlights of Jones’ first D-League game below.