Herb Jones will wear a new number in the 2024-25 NBA season, the New Orleans Pelicans announced on Tuesday. But seeing Jones in the No. 2 won’t be new for long-time fans of the former Alabama standout.
Jones wore No. 2 on his jersey while a high school standout at Sunshine and Hale County. At Alabama, Jones started out wearing No. 10 but switched to No. 1.
Since entering the NBA in the second round of the 2021 draft, Jones had worn No. 5 for the Pelicans. But he has yielded that number to guard Dejounte Murray, who was acquired by New Orleans in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks last week.
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Murray had worn No. 5 through seven NBA seasons, including a trip to the 2022 All-Star Game, as well as in college at Washington.
“Shout out to Herb Jones,” Murray said during his introductory press conference on Tuesday in New Orleans. “He a real one. I reached out to him. I just got to get this out of the way, clear up everything: I reached out to him, and it wasn’t my intention to wear 5. You guys are my family; I said, ‘I’m going to wear another number.’ I asked him does he like it or love it. He didn’t too much love it, and he was like, ‘I’ll give you 5. If 2’s available, I’ll take 2.’ And that’s how that happened.
“I ain’t going to say nothing, but I’m going to make sure he’s taken care of because that’s just who I am. They’re laughing, but I’m serious. I’m going to take care of him, make sure he’s straight.
“But on the basketball end, he’s legit. He’s legit, and I want to challenge him, I want him to challenge me, starting in practice. I want to be on first-team All-Defense with him. That’s something I’ve been preaching since the trade happened. I’m excited to play with him, and like I said, I want to get on first-team All-Defense with Herb Jones.”
Murray averaged 22.5 points, 6.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 78 games for the Hawks last season.
Jones averaged 11.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 76 games for the Pelicans last season. He was a first-team selection on the NBA All-Defensive team for the 2023-24 season.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.