During his time in the NBA, Bobby Jones was a recognized defensive player in the league, but he was an upright man. Compared to other defenders who squeeze and tear their opponents' jerseys with their elbows and hips on defense, Jones relies on tireless scrambling and super willpower when defending. Jones' consistently good performances on the defensive end and some of his abilities in other areas, such as leadership, have made him a great sixth.
In the 1980s, the only player who could compare with Jones was Celtics player Kevin McHale. Whenever Jones got up from the bench and prepared to play, the opponent's defense could not be relaxed at all, and they also needed to work harder on the defensive end, because Jones would not let the opponent win easily. When Jones comes off the bench, opponents may not be able to loosen their defense, and they will have to work extra the offensive end to get the ball to the basket.
Jones' coach will marvel at what he's good at, something that leaves many other players unable to do, such as blocks, no-ball movements, busy defenses. And he was so selfless that the coach had to ask him to shoot more.
Jones has been named to the NBA's Best Defensive First Team eight times in his 12-year career; the first NBA's Best Sixth Man. The 1983 NBA championship with the Philadelphia 76ers. On top of that, Jones' team never missed the playoffs.
Former 76ers general manager Pat Williams told NBA Today: "If I were to have young people imitate someone, I would choose Bobby Jones." Jones' teammate Julius Owen added: "He's a completely selfless player, running like a deer, beating like a gazelle, kicking with his head and heart every night and then leaving the pitch as if nothing had happened. ”
Once Jones made it clear to the referee and said to the referee: It's me, not the opponent, I've fouled. The referee changed the verdict and gave the foul to Jones. Jones, coach at the Denver Nuggets, Larry Brown, said: "Watching Bobby Jones on the basketball court is like watching a cheater poker game looking at an honest man. ”
The 6-foot-9 striker has a lot of respect for the game, rules and traditions. He always raised his hand when he was fouled. When Nuggets teammate Paul Silas showed him the non-conforming approach to getting the rebounding position, Jones said no, thank you. Jones said: "For veterans like Paul, I think it's an administrative privilege. "But that's not my game."
As for vices such as drinking alcohol and smoking, there is no doubt about it. In 1976–77, Jones was named the NBA's "Most Stable Player," and Jones handed over a $10,000 prize to the charity. At the awards dinner (not to drink at Jones's request), he said from the podium: "I have absolutely no objection to whiskey, and I feel that God gave me this money not to keep but to use." ”
Oddly enough, Jones never fell in love with basketball. His father was runners-up in the 1949 Oklahoma State University National Championship. Jones recalled, "I didn't like sports. "I'd rather watch TV, but my father wants me to exercise."
”
In sixth grade, Jones reluctantly worked for the local church team, who were looking for tall men. In his junior high school team, he sat on the bench most of the time because he was a bad dribbler and shooter. Whenever he comes into the game, he focuses on rebounding, defense and passing. He recalled: "I didn't want the ball, and as soon as I got it I wanted to pass it. Among the sophomores at Charlotte South Mecklenburg High School, Jones, who was 6 feet 6, became a basketball team. Bobby actually prefers athletics because he can practice on his own or on his own terms. He won the state high jump championship twice. Jones blossomed on the court in his junior year, winning Charlotte's Player of the Year award and leading South Mecklenburg to the state playoffs. Still, Jones didn't think much about the future of basketball. "It's a seasonal thing, but the university is interested in it, so I think it's a way I can go to school for free," he said. Jones eventually played for Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina. Jones did well in his sophomore year of college, and then doctors noticed he had an irregular heart rhythm. Their prescription: take a few weeks off. (Jones later had to take medication before each game to control the problem.) ）
The Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association selected Jones. But Jones wanted to finish his bachelor's degree in psychology, so he went back to North Carolina for his senior year. He was later selected by the Houston Rockets with the fifth overall pick in the 1974 draft.