SAN ANTONIO — To start the season, the San Antonio Spurs opted to not start the roster's lone, seasoned point guard Tre Jones.
Instead, Jeremy Sochan got the nod but that point guard experiment did not pan out
Regardless, the Spurs continued to have Jones come off the bench to steady the second unit but ahead of Thursday's matchup versus the Bucks, he found himself back in the starting unit.
With Malaki Branham shelved due to a right ankle sprain, Jones resumed the role he was in for most of last season much to the approval of teammate Devin Vassell.
"Man, it's huge," he said. "Tre brings a different energy. When we're in transition he's always looking up and just trying to find others."
It was Jones' first start of the 2023-24 season and he made the most of the opportunity.
He scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded six assists in 35 minutes.
More importantly, he gave the starting unit a floor general, directed players where to be on the court, and played the bulk of the final period (10 minutes) versus Milwaukee with the game on the line.
"He knows when and where to find and is just a true point guard," Vassell said.
The impact Jones has on the court is felt among his teammates. His defense, offense, leadership, and fit with the starting players worked.
The team recorded 31 assists on the night and he recorded four assists, along with going 2-4 from the field in the third period to keep the team in the game against the Bucks.
"The energy he brings to us on both ends of the court. is huge for us. I already knew he was going to have a good game," said Vassell.
With the game on the line in the fourth period, Victor Wembanyama found Jones wide-open for the final three-point corner shot that could have tied the game and forced overtime.
Jones missed it and was visibly upset. However, that should not take away from the impact he had on the night with the starting unit.
"Shout out Tre," Vassell said. "If he sees this keep his head up because that's a good shot."
It's an open question if Jones will continue to be in the starting role as the season moves forward.
But his performance against the Bucks proves he certainly will be welcomed by Vassell.