Perry Jones has returned to American Airlines Center several times as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but on Sunday night the Duncanville High School and Baylor product was a starter for the first time in a regular season game against the Dallas Mavericks.
In nearly 27 minutes, Jones, who is in his third NBA season, finished with 10 points and two rebounds as the Thunder lost by five to the Mavs.
Jones has been starting for OKC at the three spot with Kevin Durant out with an ankle injury and he feels thus far, things have gone pretty well.
"Obviously, I think it's going well. Without getting into specifics, I'm just trying to be aggressive, go out there and defend, alter some shots, do whatever it takes," Jones said after the Dallas game. "Not really looking at numbers. That's going to come, but right now I'm just looking to play a solid role and defend. Overall, it's been a good year."
Jones has started 11 of his 17 games so far this season and as a starter, he is averaging nearly 11 points and three rebounds a game. His numbers off the bench aren't nearly as impressive.
OKC head coach Scott Brooks recently said he expected more from his young three, but added that the ultimate barometer of just how much Jones is or isn't contributing to the Thunder lies on the defensive end.
"I judge him on his defense. I judge him on his ability to guard his position," Brooks said. "I really believe that he's a multiple-position defender but we have to be able to see that night in and night out. Those are the challenges that a lot of players have, not just him. I think that's a great strength that we have to continue to explore."
Jones realizes that if he's going to keep getting substantial minutes, even after Durant returns from his current injury that he's going to have to show his worth and not just do so in a game here or a game there, but on a more consistent basis to justify Brooks continuing to give him time on the floor.
"Yeah, I think I have grown defensively. That's kind of what keeps me on the floor. Scott (Brooks) prefers his guys play defense, so I just try to do my best to defend the one through five. I do my best to get some stops," Jones said.
Of course, as is usually the case with any young player like Jones, who is still all of 23, finding that consistency continues to be an ongoing battle.
However, Brooks admits he has seen his versatile young defender put together a nice string of solid performances of late, something which he admits is a very good sign.
"Well, he's going to have to continue to improve on the consistency. I think he's had a couple of good games in a row, so I like that," Brooks said before the Dallas game. "I like what he's done the last few games. He just has to continue to do that."
But the good news is that Jones has plenty of solid veteran players known for defense to learn from on the Thunder, guys like Kendrick Perkins, a member of Boston's NBA championship team a few years back and fellow big Nick Collison.
"He (Perkins) has been a great mentor. He's stayed in my head. Doing bad, doing good, whatever it is, he's always going to tell me the right path. I appreciate him for that," Jones said. "All of the guys-Nick (Collison), Anthony Morrow, everybody, they stay in my head and tell me to stay confident."
Jones had started a game for the Thunder at the AAC once before, but it was during preseason.
And even though OKC ended up losing Sunday's game, this ex-Baylor Bear admits it was pretty cool to be in Brooks' starting five for the first time in a regular-season game in his hometown.
"Yeah, it'd been much better if we would have won. I'm just happy to be out there. It's a blessing to be in the NBA. I'm just trying to take full advantage of my time," Jones said.
