Weber State basketball alum Dillon Jones traded to Washington Wizards
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- Oklahoma City’s Dillon Jones (3) drives against Phoenix guard Collin Gillespie (12) on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Phoenix.
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- Weber State’s Blaise Threatt (0) smiles late in a win over Sacramento State on Saturday, March 8, 2025, in the first round of the Big Sky tournament at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho.
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- Cleveland guard Sam Merrill (5) handles the ball against Memphis guard Luke Kennard (10) in an NBA game March 14, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn.
What a wild week for Dillon Jones.
Jones and the Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA Finals on June 22, had their parade on June 24, and then Jones got his first taste of the business side of the NBA on June 28.
Jones is on his way to Washington D.C. to play for the Wizards, traded Saturday night after his first professional season wrapped up. The trade was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, who said Jones and a second-round pick were going to Washington for Colby Jones, who will be waived.
“Sad day,” posted outgoing Oklahoman beat reporter Joel Lorenzi. “Dillon was probably my favorite interview on this Thunder team. Smart player, insightful, unapologetically himself so he rarely had a filter. Hope he makes something happen in DC.”
The Thunder beat Indiana in seven games to win the team’s first NBA title since moving to Oklahoma City and have every main-roster player under contract for next season. Since OKC drafted 6-foot-10 Georgetown big man Thomas Sorber with the 15th pick, and the guaranteed contract that comes in the first round, the Thunder had to make room and Dillon Jones was the move general manager Sam Presti made.
In his fourth year at Weber State, Jones averaged 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He became the only Division I men’s player in at least 31 years (as far back as Sports Reference has full college stats) to total at least 600 points, 300 rebounds, 160 assists and 60 steals in one season.
He capped his 119-game WSU career as the program’s all-time No. 1 in steals (208), No. 2 in assists (412), No. 3 in rebounds (1,138), No. 5 in scoring (1,782), and No. 2 in made free throws (497).
Almost exactly one year ago, Presti traded five second-round picks to move into the first round and draft Jones with the No. 26 overall selection (ironically, that pick was announced live as Washington’s, since the NBA does not immediately enact draft-day trades).
Jones averaged 2.5 points. 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 54 games as a rookie on 10.2 minutes per appearance. He started two games for the Thunder, including an April 13 win at New Orleans when Jones totaled career-highs 13 points and 10 rebounds, one of three double-digit-scoring games of the season.
He also appeared in 10 playoff games, which included a 10-point outing at Minnesota and a four-point night in the Finals at Indiana. He became the first Weber State and second Big Sky alum to appear in the NBA Finals, and is one of six WSU alums to record points in the playoffs.
Though Jones’ on-court role was not in the main rotation, teammates spoke highly of him. In a May 2 press conference, MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander explained why he and Jones were usually the last ones to leave the gym.
“Dillon’s a really good basketball player. He really understands the game,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He sees a lot and I try to pick his head, try to see what he sees. I really respect his basketball IQ. The kid’s a hard worker, he wants to get after it.”
The move may give Jones more playing time. Only Utah had a worse record than Washington last season. The Wizards traded Jordan Poole to New Orleans for CJ McCollum, then took Texas freshman Tre Johnson with the No. 6 overall pick, considered by most as the best shooter in the draft. Washington also drafted Illinois forward Will Riley at No. 21 and Florida State wing Jamir Watkins at No. 36.
