David Jones Garcia Reflects on Memphis, the NBA Grind, and the Road Not Taken
Just 17 miles separated David Jones Garcia from his former team when Memphis tipped off against UNLV on Nov. 16. While the Tigers were taking the floor at FedExForum, Jones Garcia was lacing up for the Austin Spurs at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, ready for another night in the G League grind.
Now in his second professional season, the former Memphis Tigers guard is navigating the long road to NBA stability. He’s on a two-way contract with San Antonio, splitting time between the Spurs and their G League affiliate.
It’s a journey that’s already seen its share of twists-he went undrafted in 2024, signed a two-way deal with the 76ers, and was waived before the season even started. But Jones Garcia is still standing, still working, and still believing in the plan.
“I’m just going with the flow,” he said. “I’m just working and taking it day by day.”
That mindset has carried him through a challenging rookie season and into a more promising Year 2. And even as he pushes forward, there are moments when his mind drifts back to what could’ve been-particularly during Memphis’ NCAA Tournament run last season.
“I did last year,” Jones Garcia admitted. “Watching them make it to the tournament, I felt like if I was on the team, I would have definitely helped a little bit, in whatever way might be.”
That “what if” hangs in the air. Memphis won 29 games and earned its highest tournament seed since the John Calipari era.
The Tigers had firepower in the backcourt and muscle in the paint with Dain Dainja. Adding a scorer like Jones Garcia-who averaged 21.8 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 38% from deep during his lone season at Memphis-might’ve taken them to another level.
“We going deep into the tournament,” he said with a smile. “Who was going to stop us, though?
Nobody. I can get one, PJ (Haggerty) was going to get one, (Tyrese) Hunter was going to get one and we had Dain, too.
We would’ve been great.”
But the decision to leave wasn’t made lightly. Jones Garcia, now 24, knew time wasn’t on his side.
By the time he wrapped up his fourth college season in Memphis, he was already older than many players entering their second or third NBA seasons. That reality weighed heavily as he considered his next move.
Ultimately, age was a key factor in declaring for the draft. He waited until late May to keep his name in, but there was never a sense of burning bridges. His relationship with Penny Hardaway remained strong, and he felt confident he would’ve been welcomed back had he chosen to return.
“The relationship we built through the year, I didn’t really have to hear it from Coach,” he said. “I knew if I would have come back, he would have definitely welcomed me with open arms again.”
Since turning pro, Jones Garcia has started carving out his path. He’s played in 10 NBA games with the Spurs this season and is averaging 27.4 points in five G League appearances-a sign that his scoring touch is translating at the next level.
His name may have changed slightly-he now goes by his full legal surname, Jones Garcia, a nod to the Dominican Republic naming tradition that includes both paternal and maternal surnames-but his game remains the same: aggressive, confident, and built to score.
There’s still plenty of work ahead. Two-way contracts are stepping stones, not guarantees. But for a player who’s already weathered the ups and downs of the pro game, Jones Garcia is showing he belongs in the conversation.
And if things had gone a little differently? Well, Memphis might still be talking about a deeper run last March. But for now, David Jones Garcia is focused on the present-one game, one shot, one opportunity at a time.