FORMER
STAMPEDE GUARD DAMON JONES
TURNED CALL-UPS INTO NBA SUCCESS
Wire -
PHOENIX - Jan. 12 2001 - If playing in the NBA is the dream of most of the
players in the Continental Basketball Association, then former Guard Damon
Jones is living it. Jones is now a member of the NBA Vancouver Grizzlies.
"If
you have a dream to make it to the NBA, the CBA is a good route," Jones
said. "I had some abilities coming into the CBA, but the league helped me
improve in a lot of areas that needed work.''
As one
of only nine Houston players to score 1,000 points and dish out 300 assists'
Jones also finished with a school record 182 three-pointers and had aspirations
for an NBA career.
Undrafted
by an NBA franchise after departing the University of Houston in 1997 following
his junior season, Jones joined the Idaho Stampede for the 1998-99 season.
His hopes
of entering the NBA were soon fulfilled as his performance in the CBA led
to three CBA-to-NBA call-ups during the 1998-99 campaign, tying a CBA record
for most player call-ups in a single season.
Jones spent
time that year with the Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets and Boston Celtics.
Between trips to the NBA, Jones played in 35 games with Idaho and worked
closely with then-assistant coach Rory White, who was promoted to the club's
head coaching position last season.
"Rory
was a motivational guy who helped me through rough times when my opportunity
to make it to the NBA looked bleak'" said Jones. "He always said
to keep working hard and everything will work out. Having that positive
influence around me all the time really helped me stay focused."
White feels
that it was Jones' determination and strong work ethic that landed him in
the NBA. "He is one of the guys that would come in before practice
to shoot and would be one of the last to leave," White said. "He would
give 110 percent every practice. I think that once he had confidence that
he could make it in the NBA and had an opportunity, he gave it his best
and succeeded."
Jones'
efforts in Idaho helped him earn CBA All-League First Team and Newcomer
of the Year honors that season. The next year he found himself back in the
NBA, where he enjoyed stints with the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks,
and has since become a key contributor to the Grizzlies' backcourt alongside
Mike Bibby.
"The
CBA gave me the opportunity to show NBA personnel that I can play at that
level'" Jones said. "Without the CBA, I don't think I'd be where
I am today.'' You can catch Jones and the Grizzlies in Seattle tonight taking
on the Sonics on the NBA on NBC.
