Luka Doncic comments should have Pelicans thrilled about Herb Jones extension

In a recent interview with Jason Gay of The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic named Herbert Jones and Marcus Smart as the defenders who have caused him the "biggest headaches." It was high praise from a five-time All-NBA First Team honoree that should have the New Orleans Pelicans grinning from ear to ear.

Fresh off of signing Jones to a three-year extension, the Pelicans can proceed with confidence knowing even the most unguardable players in the NBA struggle to score against their top defender.

Jones has earned critical acclaim for his defense, including an All-Defensive First Team nod in 2023-24. A shoulder injury robbed him of an ideal follow-up campaign, but it's worth noting that he appeared in 220 of his previous 264 games—oftentimes tormenting stars with his defense.

Doncic has been as effusive with his praise as anyone, with comments expressing his admiration for Jones dating back to 2023.

Jones is entering new territory as a player who's now effectively signed to a five-year contract, but if Doncic's persistent praise proves anything, it's that he's worth the money.

Luka Doncic praises Herb Jones, calls him one of his "biggest headaches"

Jones has been highly regarded on the defensive end of the floor since he was in college. He won SEC Player of the Year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2020-21, twice earned SEC All-Defense honors, and was even named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2021-22.

The latter accolade could admittedly be attributed to any number of factors, but it was Jones' defense that made an instantly positive impression on those around the Association.

Through four seasons, Jones has compiled career averages of 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 offensive boards, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 1.0 three-point field goal made per game. He's done so while shooting at a clip of .477/.366/.824.

Jones' jumper has been a bit hot and cold at times, but during his most recent healthy season in 2023-24, he shot 41.8 percent from beyond the arc on 273 attempts.

That's the form New Orleans likely believes he can rediscover in 2025-26, when the franchise is hoping their generationally poor injury luck will take a turn for the positive. In 2024-25, Jones was joined by the likes of Brandon Ingram, Dejounte Murray, and Zion Williamson as key players who missed at least 50 games due to injury.

Thankfully, Jones should be able to make a full recovery from shoulder surgery and will now feature into a role that Pelicans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars is quite familiar with.

Before he became a title-winning executive, Dumars won two championships and earned five All-Defense selections as a player. Jones and Dumars are by no means carbon copies of one another, but it's easy to see why one of Dumars' first acts was to sign Jones through at least 2029.

If Doncic's praise for what Jones has accomplished thus far is a sign of things to come, then expect the Pelicans' defensive ace to continue racking up All-Defense nods for the rest of the decade.