Mavericks’ Derrick Jones Jr. won’t be ‘out-worked’ amid NBA championship pursuit

Joey Mistretta: Tell me about your playoff experience so far?

Derrick Jones Jr: It’s great… My first experience playing in this arena. Fans are great, I love it. The energy was there. Even the game we were down 31, the energy was still there. Fans were still giving everything they had… Once the run started to go, it even got louder and louder. I love those types of environments. I love when it gets loud. That’s just how I love it.

Joey Mistretta: When you are coming out of college, going undrafted and everything, if you would have told yourself where you are now… Playing this role with this playoff team, what would you have thought back then?

Derrick Jones Jr: I mean, I’d believe it. I know the type of person I am, I know what I’m capable of, I know my work ethic. Personally, I’m just not gonna be out-worked… I’m not going to allow somebody to out-work me out there. That’s just my game.

Jones’ elite defense for Mavericks

Joey Mistretta: When it comes to defense, you said you’re a terrific defender. I think everyone agrees with that. Who would you say is the hardest player to guard in the entire NBA?

Derrick Jones Jr: It’s tough because there’s a lot of offensively-skilled players in this league. It’s tough to just pinpoint it down to just one person. It’s a tough matchup every night… You never have an easy night to guard. You just gotta learn everybody’s tendencies, learn what they like to do, learn what they don’t like to do. Just try to force them to take tough shots.

Joey Mistretta: How much does it mean to you being called… to guard James (Harden), to guard Paul (George), those tough guys, what does that mean to you?

Derrick Jones Jr: I mean, it means everything to me personally. That’s what I want. That’s what I told coach that’s what I wanted when I first got here. We had a team meeting as players, wanted to talk about goals for the team, goals individually… I told everybody that I wanted to be on the All-Defensive team. I feel like my defense was there. Just certain things didn’t fall into play for me to get on the All-Defensive team.

Jones also plays role in Mavs’ offensive attack

Joey Mistretta: I love your game, I love the defense. But the offense is good too. You shoot threes, you’re an elite dunker. How much pride do you take in your offensive game, just threes, dunks, everything?

Derrick Jones Jr: I work for it. That’s one thing I do, I work everyday. I come to the gym, I put in my work and I go home, relax. Then come back to the gym, put in some more work. It’s just finally good to see my work paying off. I’m just getting an opportunity to be out there and do the things offensively. Coach trusts me, teammates trust me. It’s probably my first time, second time in my career that I’ve had this opportunity. I’m blessed and I’m grateful.

Joey Mistretta: I know everyone gets asked about Luka (Doncic) and Kyrie (Irving). I’m going to try to change up that question a little bit if I can… When you first came to this team, I’m sure you expected them to play one way. Has it lived up to what you thought, or has it been different?

Derrick Jones Jr: For me, it’s been everything that I expected. I knew Kai and Luka are gifted offensively. I mean it’s tough to stay in front of them, it’s tough to guard them. So when they have it going… I know how to play alongside them. You give them space, you make sure they got the matchup that they like, give them space and let them create. If your man help, then they gonna make the right play. They’re basketball players, they’re not selfish players. They’re gonna make the right play every time. If your man help, they going to dish it to you and they gonna have to trust in that confidence in you that you gonna make the right play after they make that play. I knew they were basketball players and they’re very smart individuals so they gonna play the game the right way.

Joey Mistretta: Coach (Jason) Kidd, he’s received some criticism in the past. I think he’s doing a great job this year. Can you share your thoughts on what it’s been like playing for him so far?

Derrick Jones Jr: Amazing. Like I said, coach got the confidence in me. And they are just installing the confidence and the trust in me. I’m living with it and I’m going.

Derrick Jones Jr.’s ceiling and Mavericks’ championship pursuit

Joey Mistretta: Couple more questions, How high do you think your ceiling is in the NBA?

Derrick Jones Jr: As high as I want it to be. I just gotta keep working and keep going at what I’m doing.

Joey Mistretta: And then last question, what will it take for the Mavericks to win the 2024 NBA Finals?

Derrick Jones Jr: Everything that we’ve been doing in the games that we’ve won. Playing defense, getting the shots that we need, getting out on the break. Just making it a tough game for everybody else.