Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball treasure looking like Spurs starting point guard

Duke basketball alum Tre Jones has a shot to excel in his third NBA season.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball stars Zion Williamson and Tre Jones (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich recently hinted that center Jakob Poeltl is the team's only guaranteed starter. But in each of the Spurs' three preseason games thus far, beloved Duke basketball product Tre Jones has served as their starting point guard — and seemingly not because of injuries to others at his position.

That includes Sunday night when Jones and the Spurs, now 0-3 in preseason play following their 111-97 loss, hosted the New Orleans Pelicans (3-0), featuring another NBA Blue Devil in Jones' former Duke teammate, Zion Williamson. (The other Blue Devil on New Orleans' roster, Brandon Ingram, remains out with a sore toe.)

Jones finished with nine points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two turnovers in 19 minutes on the floor.

Meanwhile, Williamson totaled eight points, nine rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block, and four turnovers in his 24 minutes.

Across his first two seasons in the league, Tre Jones drew 12 starts in his 106 career games. Last season, the former two-year Duke basketball starting point guard, who went No. 41 overall at the 2020 NBA Draft, played 69 games, averaging 6.0 points, 3.4 assists, and only 0.7 turnovers in 16.6 minutes per outing.

The Spurs, who have not reached the playoffs since 2019, have two more preseason bouts before beginning their regular season on Oct. 19 in a home game against the Charlotte Hornets.

RELATED: List of every Blue Devil currently in the NBA

We'll have to wait and see if Tre Jones gets the starting nod. For now, though, he seems like the frontrunner.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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