"Sky’s the Limit": Tyus Jones on Teaming Up with Durant, Adapting to Budenholzer’s System, and Suns' Chemistry (Exclusive)
Tyus Jones has quickly settled into his role with the Phoenix Suns, finding a rhythm alongside superstars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. He has averaged 9.4 points, 7.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds and has a 4-1 record through five games.
Despite having other options in free agency, Jones committed to what he felt was the ideal fit with the Suns even though he signed a one-year, $3 million contract. While he signed a deal well below his market value, it was a risk worth taking. He had the option of joining various rebuilding teams armed with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, meaning he could have signed elsewhere for upwards of $12 million per season. Whether it was the Wizards or other teams in need of a point guard to steady their offense, Jones had options. Instead, he took less money to start at point guard on a hopeful contender needing his skill set.
“I’m loving it,” Jones told Sportskeeda in a recent exclusive interview.
The adjustment process has appeared smooth to observers based on how well Jones has handled it, but despite making it look simple, he admits it's an ongoing process during the early stage. With the firepower the Suns possess, he sees major potential for what they can achieve but acknowledges that steps cannot be skipped before realizing their full potential together. As a steady-handed point guard, he's made it easier for Booker and Bradley Beal, who had to take on more responsibility as point guards last season but can be in more natural situations this season with Jones on the floor.
“Still figuring it out, and we’re working on it every day, trying to make it more natural so we’re just making reads without thinking," Jones explained to Sportskeeda. "That’ll come with time."
A Steady Hand for a Star-Studded Offense
With the threat of deploying a lineup full of perimeter full of off-the-dribble threats, including Jones and the Suns' three stars, there is a long-term sense of significant potential with all of them on the floor. However, gaining a strong familiarity and connection with each other comes with time. Once that's achieved, Jones believes the potential for this group is tremendous.
"With the weapons and versatility we have, the sky’s the limit for us," Jones told Sportskeeda.
Jones’ efficiency, low turnover rate, and disciplined approach to decision-making make him an ideal floor general for a team that didn't have a true point guard last season. He's coming off a season with the rebuilding Washington Wizards, including his 7.35 assist-to-turnover ratio setting a new single-season record, breaking his previous record-setting output of 7.04 in 2021-22 with the Memphis Grizzlies. With an even more outstanding 8.75 assist-to-turnover ratio to begin his 2024-25 campaign, his focus on studying film and understanding his teammates’ tendencies has been crucial to fueling this early success.
Jones has embraced it after being challenged early in his career to be an efficient floor general who doles out assists at a high rate without making mistakes. He's achieved this success by studying both his personnel to get the most out of his teammates' talent, but he finds weaknesses in the opponent to exploit.
“Studying the game and watching a lot of film—on our team, on our opponents, understanding the system, knowing where everyone is supposed to be, and knowing my guys’ spots and habits,” Jones told Sportskeeda. “There’s a learning curve with being new here, but so far, it’s been good.”
While having supremely talented scorers makes Jones' job easier and offers many options for a half-court offense, Jones is already making it easier for them, too. Durant appreciates the extra playmaking Jones brings, allowing everyone on the court to operate more fluidly. This flexibility has created an unpredictable offense.
“The more playmaking and decision-makers you can have on a team, at that level, it’s always good,” Durant said. “Ball still running through me, Book, Brad. But you add Tyus in there, too; he’s mixing in a little bit. He’s not just simply controlling the whole game and handing us shots whenever he wants to. I think we’re all just playing in the flow of each other.”
Jones’s ability to run the offense excellently has already caught opponents' attention, including Hall of Fame point guard and Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd. Kidd acknowledged the challenge of containing Phoenix’s new floor general, especially with elite scorers like Durant and Booker. Kidd emphasized Jones' ability to attack the paint as a threat opposing teams must consider when guarding Phoenix. With so much perimeter talent around Jones, making help rotations will be challenging for the opposition.
“Yeah, I think he's going to set the table,” Kidd said before a recent matchup. “Also, you can't go to sleep on [Tyus] Jones, because he can score, and he can get into the paint, he can collapse the defense. And when you talk about three of the best in the game, [Kevin] Durant, [Bradley] Beal, and Book [Devin Booker]—if you're going to leave one of those, they're going to make you pay for it.”
Building on Kidd's point, the Suns relied on their star trio to attack the paint heavily last season. Aside from Durant, Booker, and Beal, the only Suns players to average four or more drives per game in 2023-24 were Grayson Allen (5.8) and Eric Gordon (4.6). Gordon is now on the Philadelphia 76ers, and Allen is best served spacing the floor. Jones, averaging 6.4 drives per game, provides that reliable fourth threat to generate pressure on the defense while allowing the supporting cast to fill natural roles.
Jones' Versatility Adds to Suns' Attack
Not only does Jones serve as an impactful initiator by organizing the offense, but he also commands the respect of the defense as a floor spacer. He's had significant success as a catch-and-shoot threat playing next to Durant, Booker, and Beal, producing 1.44 points per possession, with 66.7 percent of his attempts generated being unguarded. With the Suns' three scorers all being catch-and-shoot threats, too, it's fluid for anyone to bring the ball up and get into the offense — maximizing the combinations that can be leveraged regarding offensive actions or simply the favorable matchups to attack. Each can attack closeouts and make plays in the gap or make the proper pass.
“I might bring it up, Ty might bring it up, Book might bring it up. Brad. So the more versatile attackers you have with four or five guys handling the ball, it just throws everybody off,” Durant said. “The key is that we all can catch-and-shoot, catch-and-drive, play off the ball too.”
It's early, but Booker has seen a significant uptick in the distribution of his shot attempts coming as catch-and-shoot looks. These particular shots went from accounting for 13.3 percent of his field goal attempts last season to almost double at 25.3 percent. He's converting at a 40.0 percent clip on 4.0 attempts from beyond the arc. Booker went from leading the Suns in touches per game (73.4) last season to averaging 59.2 per game. Meanwhile, Beal has also experienced a reduction in touches per game this season, going from 66.3 to 53.3.
It's come with a significant reduction in his workload for Booker but greater efficiency, going from 6.2 time of possession per game and averaging 4.4 dribbles per touch and 5.04 seconds per touch to recording 3.9 time of possession, 3.22 dribbles per touch, and 3.94 average seconds per touch. He's producing 0.446 points per touch compared to 0.369 in 2023-24. Among 96 players averaging 50 touches per game, Booker's output per touch has been the best in the league.
“It’s just naturally what I’ve been most of my life, and that’s a playmaker and a scorer,” Booker said. “Those guys can set the table and take pressure off us, and make sure every basket isn’t a tough one. You get a couple of easy ones in transition, and they find you in the corner instead of having to create every time down. You have somebody who can do it for you.”
After battling through the Paris Olympics with Durant and other superstars during the NBA offseason, Jones has been impressed with the confidence Booker has played with. While Booker has established himself as one of the league's best players, Jones sees elevated confidence from that Team USA experience that has translated into an impact on the court. Playing alongside so many talented players has only helped Booker to thrive while playing next to more ball handlers.
“Playing at the highest level builds your confidence. Devin’s one of the best in the world, and proving that on that level just adds to it,” Jones told Sportskeeda. “He’s brought back that experience to help all of us here.”
Playing for Mike Budenholzer
While Jones is new to the Suns, the rest of the team is also adjusting and learning head coach Mike Budenholzer and how he wants to operate. Budenholzer, whom Jones describes as a player’s coach, has brought a disciplined, confidence-building approach that has encouraged the team to develop chemistry while understanding the system.
“He instills confidence in everyone, from 1 through 15,” Jones told Sportskeeda. “He’s the kind of guy you want to play for and go to battle with. We have his back out there, and he’s calling the shots, so we’re ready to do whatever he says.”
As the Suns progress through the season, they focus on building chemistry and adapting to Budenholzer’s system. Jones detailed how the whole group is still learning the ins and outs of this system and each other's tendencies, but the goal is to make their approach "second nature." This process involves spending time both on and off the court.
“Right now, it’s all about chemistry—building camaraderie on and off the court, understanding each other’s games, and grasping Coach Bud’s system,” Jones told Sportskeeda. “We’re working to make it second nature, where we’re not thinking, just flying around making plays on both ends.”
With Jones’ steady leadership and the versatile attack enabled by players like Durant and Booker, the Suns are poised to leverage their talent and chemistry as they pursue their championship aspirations this season.