When Herbert Jones was selected the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, most thought he would be a defensive specialist and fringe role player.
Jones quickly put those notions to bed, having a strong Summer League and preseason that just kept going into the regular season.
He’s played his way into the starting lineup and now looks like an untouchable piece of the Pelicans future as an elite defensive wing who also brings surprising offense to the table.
Jones’ shooting numbers have surprised even his most optimistic supporters and at this point he is almost a lock for the All-Rookie team and will get some mentions for the All-Defense as well.
He’s also put himself in an elite group with his shooting numbers, which no one expected.
Herb Jones on the fringes of the 50/40/90 club for the New Orleans Pelicans
The 50/40/90 club references any player who shoots 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from the 3-point line and 90 percent from the free-throw line.
Only nine players have ever accomplished this feat and the list is pretty much the greatest shooters in NBA history, guys like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Reggie Miller, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki to name a few.
Herb Jones is not quite there statistically, and let’s face it, no one would put him among the NBA’s all-time greatest shooters by any means, but he is currently in the 50/50/80 club, shooting 50.3 percent on field goals overall, 40 percent from 3-point range and 81.1 percent from the line.
Of course, Jones doesn’t shoot nearly as much as any of the guys in the 50/40/90 club, but the fact that he is even sniffing it has to be a shock to just about everyone, as he was not thought of as much of a shooter coming out of college.
Fred Vinson, shooting coach for the New Orleans Pelicans, needs to take a bow, as he has helped make this happen along with a lot of hard work from Herb Jones.
Jones has been defying expectations all season, and if he finishes it in the 50/40/80 club, he’ll cement himself as one of the best draft picks the New Orleans Pelicans have ever made.