Kam Jones didn’t need long to make his case in a Milwaukee Bucks uniform.
After being moved on from by both the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls, the guard landed with Milwaukee and got his first real chance to show what he could do in Summer League against the Sacramento Kings. He made that opportunity count right away.
Jones came off the bench and looked settled from the jump. He played fewer than four minutes in the first quarter, but still managed eight points and an assist while going 3-of-5 from the field and hitting a free throw. Milwaukee needed a spark early, and Jones provided one while helping the Bucks dig out of an early deficit.
The rest of the night wasn’t quite as clean, but the aggression stayed there. Jones finished with 14 points, three assists and two rebounds in 18 minutes, making him one of Milwaukee’s better performers in a six-point loss. The one rough edge was the turnovers - he had five - though that can be chalked up at least in part to getting his legs under him after just joining the team.
For a player who had just signed and was still getting acquainted with many of his new teammates, it was a strong first showing. The Bucks had every reason to like what they saw.
Milwaukee’s decision to scoop him up wasn’t exactly a difficult one. A year after going 38th overall in the draft, Jones was available on a two-way contract, and the Bucks took the chance to add a 24-year-old with upside. Even with a crowded guard group, he gives them another developmental piece to work with as they move into the next phase of Bucks basketball.
What stands out most is how quickly Indiana and Chicago moved on. Jones barely saw the floor as a rookie with the Pacers, then was traded to the Bulls with cash and pick swaps in the NBA Draft before Chicago ultimately cut him.
On paper, he looked like the kind of depth piece that could still help. Instead, both teams let him go.
Milwaukee is the team benefiting now. It’s only one game, but Jones already looks like someone with a point to prove.
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