Carlik Jones

Jones grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Aiken High School. He competed alongside Jarron Cumberland in AAU play. He was named third team All-Division IV and first-team all-Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference after 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game as a junior. Jones signed with Radford for college basketball on November 12, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/recruiting-blog/2015/11/12/aiken-point-guard-carlik-jones-discusses-signing-with-radford/75659388/|title=Aiken point guard Carlik Jones discusses signing with Radford|first=Mike|last=Dyer|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=November 12, 2015|access-date=March 7, 2020}} As a senior, Jones averaged 22.3 points and six assists and was named The Cincinnati Enquirer Division IV Player of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/high-school/ohio-high-school/2018/03/04/carlik-jones-aiken-sends-radford-ncaa-tournament-3-buzzer/393803002/|title=Carlik Jones of Aiken sends Radford to NCAA Tournament on 3-point buzzer beater|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=March 4, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2020}} He scored 57 points in the sectional final against Hughes STEM High School and led the Falcons to a regional championship and to the State final four.{{cite web|url=https://www.wcpo.com/sports/high-school-sports/ohio-high-school-sports/associated-press-southwest-district-boys-basketball-teams|title=UC-bound Cumberland tops AP all-district team|first=Mike|last=Dyer|website=WCPO.com|date=March 2, 2016|access-date=March 7, 2020}}

Jones redshirted his true freshman season. He became a starter for the Highlanders as a redshirt freshman and was named the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year and honorable mention All-Big South after averaging 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.roanoke.com/sports/college/radford-s-big-shot-carlik-jones-still-hearing-from-well/article_6d0079a4-b936-545f-aa9b-892fffe6e633.html|title=Radford's big shot: Carlik Jones still hearing from well-wishers about tourney-winning basket|first=Andy|last=Bitter|work=The Roanoke Times|date=March 9, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://radfordnewsjournal.com/sports/highlander-men-big-south-favorites/|title=Highlander men Big South favorites|work=Radford News Journal|date=October 26, 2018 }} He made a three-pointer with two seconds left against Liberty in the Big South Conference Championship game to send Radford to the NCAA Tournament.{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2762635-radford-wins-big-south-championship-with-buzzer-beater-vs-liberty|title=Radford Wins Big South Championship with Buzzer-Beater vs. Liberty|first=Zac|last=Wasnik|website=Bleacher Report|date=March 4, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2020}} He was named first team All-Big South after averaging 15.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in his redshirt sophomore season.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/mens-basketball/article236788593.html|title=Radford, Gardner-Webb, Winthrop picked to lead Big South|work=The Charlotte Observer|date=October 29, 2019|access-date=March 7, 2020}} Jones was selected as the Big South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year and was again named first team All-Big South as a redshirt junior.{{cite web|url=https://www.roanoke.com/sports/college/ru-men-s-basketball-highlanders-carlik-jones-name-big-south/article_c89198cf-4391-5016-810d-f5b8aad78956.html|title=RU men's basketball: Highlanders' Carlik Jones name Big South player of the year|first=Mike|last=Niziolek|work=The Roanoke Times|date=March 2, 2020|access-date=March 7, 2020}} He averaged 20 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game as a junior. Since Jones was set to graduate from Radford at the end of the 2019–20 school year, he had the option to transfer to another school for his final season of athletic eligibility without having to sit out a year, and chose to become a graduate transfer rather than return to Radford.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28952394/sources-radford-guard-carlik-jones-grad-transfer|title=Radford guard Carlik Jones enters transfer portal|first=Jeff|last=Borzello|publisher=ESPN|date=March 25, 2020|access-date=March 25, 2020}}

Widely considered to be one of the best available graduate transfers in the nation, Jones announced that he had chosen the University of Louisville to play his final season of eligibility.{{cite web|url= https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28998396/guard-carlik-jones-commits-louisville-grad-transfer-radford|title= Carlik Jones commits to Louisville as grad transfer from Radford|first=Jeff|last=Borzello|publisher=ESPN|date=April 6, 2020|access-date=April 6, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2020/03/31/louisville-basketball-finalist-radford-guard-carlik-jones/5093520002/|title=Louisville basketball a finalist for Radford guard Carlik Jones|work=The Courier-Journal|date=March 31, 2020|access-date=April 14, 2020}} He played in 19 games for the Cardinals. On April 10, 2021, he announced that he would test the NBA Draft waters, allowing him to come back for an additional season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he then made another announcement on April 26, saying that he would sign with an agent and not use the additional year of eligibility at Louisville.{{cite web |last1=Demling |first1 =Jody |title=Breaking down Louisville's basketball roster for next season |website=247Sports |url=https://247sports.com/college/louisville/LongFormArticle/Louisville-basketball-Chris-Mack-Jarrod-West-Matt-Cross-Noah-Locke-165281912/#165281912_1 |access-date=May 18, 2021 |date=May 11, 2021}}

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Jones joined the Dallas Mavericks for the NBA Summer League.{{cite magazine|first=Mike|last=Fisher|title=LOOK: Dallas Mavs Release NBA Summer League Roster & Schedule|url=https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/look-dallas-mavs-release-nba-summer-league-roster-schedule|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=August 2, 2021|access-date=August 22, 2021}} On August 21, 2021, he signed with the Mavericks.{{cite web|first=Eddie|last=Sefko|title=Mavericks finalize training camp roster with three signees|url=https://www.mavs.com/camp-signees/|website=Mavs.com|date=August 23, 2021|access-date=August 23, 2021}} However, he was waived on October 15.{{cite tweet|author=Mavs PR|number=1449205139613626368|title=The Dallas Mavericks have waived forward Feron Hunt, guard Carlik Jones and guard Tyrell Terry.|user=MavsPR|date=October 15, 2021|access-date=October 23, 2021}} On October 23, he signed with the Texas Legends as an affiliate player.{{cite web|title=Legends Draft Three, Announce Training Camp Roster|url=https://texas.gleague.nba.com/news/legends-draft-three-announce-training-camp-roster/|website=NBA.com|date=October 23, 2021|access-date=October 23, 2021}} In 10 games, he averaged 20.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 30.8 minutes per game.{{cite tweet|author=Mavs PR|number=1474141941231075333|title=The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard Carlik Jones to a 10-day contract under the COVID-related hardship allowance. Jones will wear #23 for Dallas.|user=MavsPR|date=December 23, 2021|access-date=December 23, 2021}}

On December 23, 2021, Jones signed a 10-day contract with the Mavericks.{{cite news|title=Reports: Mavericks adding guards Brandon Knight, Carlik Jones on hardship contracts|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/12/22/report-mavericks-adding-legends-guard-carlik-jones-on-hardship-contract/|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=December 22, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}} Jones appeared in 3 games for Dallas, averaging 1 rebound and 1.7 assists in 6.4 minutes per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-sign-carlik-jones-010122|title=Denver Nuggets Sign Carlik Jones to 10-Day Contract|website=NBA.com|date=January 1, 2022|access-date=January 2, 2022}}

On January 1, 2022, upon the completion of his 10-day contract with Dallas, Jones signed another 10-day contract with the Denver Nuggets.

On January 11, 2022, Jones was reacquired by the Texas Legends.{{cite web|url=https://gleague.nba.com/transactions/|website=gleague.nba.com|title=2021-22 NBA G League transactions|date=January 11, 2022|access-date=January 11, 2022}}

On September 26, 2022, Jones signed with the Chicago Bulls.{{cite tweet|author=Chicago Bulls|number=1574425790422425601|title=Our Training Camp squad is set!|user=chicagobulls|date=September 26, 2022|access-date=September 29, 2022}} On October 23, 2022, he joined the training camp roster of their NBA G-League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls.{{cite web|url=https://ontapsportsnet.com/bulls/windy-city-bulls-training-camp-roster-released-chicago-bulls-two-way-players|website=ontapsportsnet.com|title=Windy City Bulls Finalize Training Camp Roster|date=October 23, 2022|access-date=October 23, 2022}}

On December 16, 2022, Jones signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls.{{cite web|title=Bulls sign Carlik Jones to a Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-sign-carlik-jones-to-a-two-way-contract|website=NBA.com|date=December 16, 2022|access-date=December 16, 2022}} He was named to the G League's inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season.{{cite web|title=Wolves' Garza And Ignite's Henderson Named Captains For NBA G League Next Up Game|url=https://gleague.nba.com/news/wolves-garza-and-ignites-henderson-named-captains-for-nba-g-league-next-up-game|website=NBA.com|date=February 7, 2023|access-date=March 8, 2023}} On March 3, 2023, Jones' deal was converted to a standard NBA contract by the Bulls{{cite web|title=Bulls sign Carlik Jones|url=https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-sign-carlik-jones|website=NBA.com|date=March 3, 2023|access-date=March 3, 2023}} and on April 5, he was named NBA G League Most Valuable Player.{{cite web|first=Luke|last=Adams|title=Bulls' Carlik Jones Named 2022/23 G League MVP|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/04/bulls-carlik-jones-named-2022-23-g-league-mvp.html|website=HoopsRumors.com|date=March 5, 2023|access-date=March 6, 2023}}

On October 20, 2023, Jones was waived by the Bulls, just prior to the start of the 2023–24 season.{{cite web|first=Luke|last=Adams|title=Bulls Waive Carlik Jones|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/10/bulls-waiving-carlik-jones.html|website=HoopsRumors.com|date=October 20, 2023|access-date=October 24, 2023}}

On November 1, 2023, Jones signed with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association.{{cite news|first=Alessandro|last=Maggi|title=Carlik Jones signs in China with Zhejiang Golden Bulls|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/carlik-jones-signs-in-china-with-zhejiang-golden-bulls/|newspaper=Sportando|date=November 1, 2023|access-date=November 3, 2023}}

On August 20, 2024, Jones signed with Partizan of the ABA League, Basketball League of Serbia (KLS) and the EuroLeague.{{cite web|title=Crno-bela simfonija: Nova energija i duh tradicije Partizana na ulasku u sezonu 2024-25|url=https://partizan.basketball/vesti/aktuelno/3738|website=Partizan.basketball|date=August 20, 2024|access-date=August 20, 2024|language=Serbian}}{{cite web|first=Frankie|last=Sachs|title=Partizan signs South Sudan star Carlik Jones|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kk-partizan-signs-south-sudan-star-carlik-jones/|website=EuroLeagueBasketball.net|date=August 19, 2024|access-date=August 19, 2024}}

Jones was naturalized to play for the South Sudan national team.{{cite AV media|date=July 1, 2024|title=1-on-1: Carlik Jones talks about his road to the Paris Olympics with South Sudan|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hox38sKGaVI|access-date=July 28, 2024|time=2:37|publisher=WCPO 9|quote="I'm really just a nationalized, I'm a nationalized player"}} He joined the team for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where the country made its first FIBA World Cup appearance.{{Cite web |title=Lakers forward Wenyen Gabriel fortifies South Sudan World Cup squad |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/news/lakers-forward-wenyen-gabriel-fortifies-south-sudan-world-cup-squad |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=FIBA.basketball |language=en}} He recorded 35 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in his FIBA World Cup debut against Puerto Rico.{{Cite magazine |title=Carlik Jones Drops 35-Point Double-Double in FIBA World Cup Debut |url=https://www.si.com/college/louisville/basketball/jones-fiba-debut |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=August 26, 2023 }} On July 20, 2024, Jones recorded a triple double in an exhibition game prior to the 2024 Olympics, when he had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 100–101 loss to the United States.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-20 |title=Carlik Jones gets triple-double in South Sudan's near-upset of Team USA basketball |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/carlik-jones-gets-triple-double-214829855.html |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}} He became the first player to record a triple double in a game against the United States.

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2|{{nbay|2021}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas

| 3 || 0 || 6.3 || .000 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 1.7 || .3 || .0 || .7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| 2 || 0 || 2.0 || .500 || — || — || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2022}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago

| 7 || 0 || 8.0 || .400 || .500 || .625 || .7 || .9 || .3 || .0 || 2.9

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 12 || 0 || 6.6 || .292 || .429 || .700 || .7 || .9 || .3 || .0 || 2.0

{{S-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17

| style="text-align:left;"| Radford

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| File:Redshirt.svg Redshirt

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18

| style="text-align:left;"| Radford

| 36 || 26 || 30.4 || .413 || .305 || .767 || 3.9 || 3.1 || 1.1 || .2 || 11.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19

| style="text-align:left;"| Radford

| 31 || 30 || 34.2 || .463 || .247 || .758 || 5.2 || 5.8 || 1.7 || .1 || 15.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20

| style="text-align:left;"| Radford

| 32 || 31 || 33.0 || .488 || .409 || .814 || 5.1 || 5.5 || 1.4 || .2 || 20.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21

| style="text-align:left;"| Louisville

| 19 || 19 || 37.5 || .402 || .321 || .815 || 4.9 || 4.5 || 1.4 || .1 || 16.8

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 118 || 106 || 33.2 || .447 || .325 || .790 || 4.7 || 4.7 || 1.4 || .1 || 15.9

{{S-end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons}}

• {{Basketballstats}}
• [https://gocards.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/carlik-jones/11573 Louisville Cardinals bio]
• [https://radfordathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/carlik-jones/6367 Radford Highlanders bio]

{{KK Partizan current roster}}

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{{NBA G League MVPs}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Carlik}}

Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup players

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:American expatriate basketball people in China

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Serbia

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Category:Basketball players from Cincinnati

Category:Chicago Bulls players

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Category:Louisville Cardinals men's basketball players

Category:Naturalised basketball players

Category:Naturalized citizens of South Sudan

Category:Olympic basketball players for South Sudan

Category:Point guards

Category:Radford Highlanders men's basketball players

Category:South Sudan men's national basketball team players

Category:South Sudanese men's basketball players

Category:Texas Legends players

Category:Undrafted NBA players

Category:Windy City Bulls players

Category:Zhejiang Golden Bulls players