Last Updated on July 21, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Derrick Jones Jr. has carved out a successful NBA career through elite athleticism, disruptive defense, and the ability to make momentum-changing plays above the rim. Whether soaring for spectacular dunks, guarding multiple positions, or providing energy off the ball, his versatility and effort make him a valuable contributor on both ends of the floor.

Here’s the detailed information about Derrick Jones Jr.:

  • Full Name: Derrick Labrent Jones Jr.
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born February 15, 1997
  • Hometown: Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters)
  • Weight: 210 pounds (95 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 meters)
  • Shoe Size: 13 (US)
  • Shoe Brand: Nike Zoom KD 4, Nike Kobe 5 Protro, Puma RS-Dreamer, Nike Zoom Kobe 4 Protro, Puma Clyde Hardwood, Nike Kobe 11, Nike Air More Uptempo
  • Number: 5 (current), has also worn 55, 45, and 31
  • Position: Small Forward / Power Forward
  • High School: Archbishop John Carroll High School, Radnor, Pennsylvania
  • College: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
  • NBA Draft: Undrafted in 2016 (signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Phoenix Suns (2016–2017)
    • Miami Heat (2017–2020)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (2020–2021)
    • Chicago Bulls (2021–2023)
    • Dallas Mavericks (2023–present)
  • 2K Rating: 77 (2K25)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (2020 with the Miami Heat)
  • Kids: One son, Derrick Jones III
  • Siblings: Three brothers (all older) and one sister (younger)

Derrick Jones Jr.’s player archetype is an athletic defensive wing who changes games with length, quickness, and relentless activity. His long frame and explosive leaping make him a disruptive perimeter defender and dangerous lob target, while most of his offense comes from cuts, transition finishes, and open threes rather than self-created shots. He has carved out a lasting NBA role by embracing that identity.

Scouting Report

The interesting thing about Derrick Jones Jr. is that his athleticism matters less because of the highlights and more because it lets him erase plays other defenders simply can’t reach. He covers an enormous amount of space from the weak side, rotates as the low man with excellent timing and has the closing speed to contest shots that look uncontested a moment earlier. On the perimeter, he moves well enough to survive switches onto guards for stretches, using long strides and reach to recover even if he loses half a step early in the possession. Offensively, his role becomes much cleaner. He’s at his best sprinting the floor, diving out of empty-side actions, cutting behind defenders who turn their heads and arriving above the rim before the help rotates. That’s where his value really shows up. He doesn’t need many dribbles, and in fact, the more the offense asks him to create against a set defense, the less comfortable he looks. His handle can get loose under pressure, and defenders are willing to sag off him if they believe the jumper isn’t the first option, which can compress spacing unless he’s constantly active as a cutter or screener. What stands out, though, is how well he understands that movement is his shot creation. Rather than waiting in the corner, he’ll relocate along the baseline, slip into open lanes and force defenders into split-second decisions that open opportunities without requiring designed plays. Defensively, he’s an ideal fit for aggressive switching schemes where length and recovery speed matter as much as physical strength, though powerful forwards who establish deep post position can create difficult matchups over long stretches. To me, his game has echoes of Shawn Marion in the way he accumulates value through movement rather than touches, while sharing some similarities with Gerald Green as an explosive finisher whose offense is most effective when it comes from timing, cuts and transition instead of isolation scoring.