Report: Popeye lands new job with Mavs
MBB: Jones spent the last four seasons working with the Denver Nuggets
What old is new again for Popeye Jones.
Marc Stein is reporting Jones has taken an assistant coaching job with the Dallas Mavericks. Jones started his NBA playing career with the Mavs back in 1993. His point guard at the time was Jason Kidd, who is now the head coach in Dallas.
Jones spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach in Denver, where he helped the Nuggets win a 2023 NBA championship. Denver Head Coach Michael Malone was fired with three games left in the regular season back in April. While Jones and the rest of the staff stayed on through the playoffs, he was not retained by new head coach David Adelman.
The Murray State Hall of Famer started his coaching career in 2010 with the Nets. After assistant coaching stops in Indiana, Philadelphia and Denver, Jones returns to Dallas where he played his first three seasons in the NBA. His best professional season came in 1995-96 when he averaged 11.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game — both career highs. The 55-year-old Jones also played for the Mavericks from 2002-03, in his second-to-last season before he retired.
Jones will get a chance to coach Cooper Flagg, the #1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, along with Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis.
So happy for him! Will be watching Dallas this year!!!