Pelicans Herb Jones' Odds To Win Defensive Player of the Year
New Orleans, LA - Pelicans forward Herb Jones is known as a quiet storm. What he may lack in voice, he makes up for in versatility, especially on the defensive end. Despite his defensive prowess, Jones has yet to make an NBA All-Defensive Team.
Sportsbook BetOnline released their odds for winning Defensive Player of the Year this upcoming season, and the odds for Jones are middle of the pack. He is 50/1 odds, tied for fourteenth-best in the league. The odds-on favorite is Jaren Jackson, Jr, at 13/2, who won the award last season.
Despite not getting the recognition off the court, his peers have shown Jones plenty of respect for his defensive work. Paul George, an eight-time All-Star, recently said on his Podcast P Podcast that Herb is the best perimeter defender in the NBA.
Nov 5, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones (5) pressures Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Larry Robinson-USA TODAY Sports
The numbers prove that claim. Jones tied for third in the NBA with 1.6 steals per game while being the anchor for a Pelicans team who finished No. 6 in defense last season. He ranked eighth in the league in charges drawn (19), all while being assigned to guard the opposition's top perimeter scorer on a nightly basis.
His work ethic has undoubtedly impressed Head Coach Willie Green. Jones is usually the first one practicing and the last one out. "Herb Jones!" Green said. "He doesn't go home much. He's in New Orleans every day, every morning — to the point where [David Griffin] and those guys are telling him, 'Herb, you gotta have some balance.'"
The Pelicans recently rewarded Jones' value to the team. New Orleans signed Jones to a four-year, $54 million contract this past offseason. He's started 135 of a possible 144 games for New Orleans over his first two seasons after being drafted in the second round from the University of Alabama. His offense has slowly improved, but his defense remains world-class in the league.
