Scoring 35 points in a 116-100 victory against BC Roma, LaJae Jones earned the fan vote for Serie A eighth-round MVP, Il Piccolo reported.
The American guard recorded 35 points in 35 minutes on the floor, shooting five of eight from two-point range and six of 12 from beyond the arc. He also converted seven of eight free throws while adding 11 rebounds, three blocked shots, and a 46 evaluation rating with a plus-22 plus/minus differential.
The rookie performance places Jones near the top of several league statistical categories in his first professional season. He ranks seventh in scoring with 18.9 points per game, second in total evaluation behind Tezenis Verona’s Tobey, second in rebounds with 9.1 per game, and first overall in blocked shots with 1.7 per contest.
Those figures attracted attention from the NBA, with the Golden State Warriors sending a staff contingent to PalaRubini on Sunday to evaluate him in person against Roma.
Speaking about the Warriors personnel, Jones shared with Il Piccolo: «Mi dicono solo di continuare così, di costruire su quanto fatto finora e, più avanti, di vedere quando ci sarà l’occasione di tornare nella Bay Area,».
Adjusting to European basketball styles often presents hurdles for first-year players arriving directly from the college ranks. Jones acknowledged his surprise at the immediate production.
🔥 LaJae Jones is DOMINATING the Italian LBA Serie A. 35 points, 11 rebounds, 6/12 3pts against Nelson and Doncic’s BC Roma. Jones is now averaging 18.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.7 steals, and 1.4 assists through 7 games this season in Italy. 🇮🇹 LaJae Jones giocatore… https://t.co/qtIwvX5lNw
«Sono veramente sorpreso. «Sapevo che avrei potuto disputare una buona annata e cominciare con il piede giusto, ma non mi attendevo un avvio così eccezionale.,» Ora devo soltanto continuare su questa strada e migliorare ancora,» Jones told Il Piccolo.
The guard credited his teammates, pointing to veterans with NBA backgrounds such as Langston, Sean, and Colbey for easing his integration on and off the floor. He also highlighted the contributions of Italian teammates, the coaching staff, and club personnel in helping him study film and adapt to the pace.
Pallacanestro Trieste’s offensive system aligns closely with Jones’s preferred style of play, featuring high tempo and transition opportunities. The roster’s perimeter shooting creates driving lanes and passing options.
«Voglio arrivare a giocarmi la Coppa Italia e il campionato. Penso che abbiamo tutte le possibilità di vincere entrambe le competizioni,» Jones told Il Piccolo concerning the team’s ambitions for the remainder of the season.
