Los Angeles Lakers: Remembering Eddie Jones

We take a look back at former Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard, the underrated Eddie Jones.

The Los Angeles Lakers have had many greats in purple and gold. One player who could have been great with the Lakers was Eddie Jones, who was traded in the middle of his fifth season with the team.

In a lockout season that was shortened to 50 games in 1999, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets. He and teammate Elden Campbell were traded for star Glen Rice, J.R. Reid, and B.J. Armstrong.

After being drafted by the Lakers with the 10th pick in the 1994 Draft, the team decided it was time to move on. The main reason being future superstar Kobe Bryant was coming into his own.

Both Bryant and Jones were able to play together, but the Lakers had visions of Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal being the dynamic duo they would end up becoming.

In four full seasons with the Lakers, Jones showed signs of stardom. He was a wing with terrific size (6″6), who can play both ends at a high level. Jones was silky smooth, he can score from different areas and can make plays for others.

Jones starred alongside Nick Van Exel before the “Kobe Era”. The pair of guards played at a high level with the Lakers as soon as they were drafted. Van Exel was drafted in 1993 with the 37th pick and became an immediate steal. In five seasons with the Lakers, he averaged 14.9 points and 7.3 assists.

Eddie Jones averaged 14 points and two steals as a rookie. He was named to the All-Rookie First Team.

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After a sophomore season in which he averaged 12.8 points on a career-high 49% shooting, he went on to have a big third season. That season he made his first All-Star appearance, as he averaged 17.2 points and 4.1 rebounds.

His final full year with the Lakers in 1997-98, he had his best season with the team. Jones not only made the All-Star team once again but was named to the All-NBA Defensive Second Team. It was the first of three defensive selections. Jones posted averages of 16.9 points and 3.1 assists. He shot an efficient 48% from the field and 39% from deep.

Had the Lakers kept Jones around, it would’ve been interesting to see what it could’ve been. He certainly would’ve been part of a great trio with Kobe and Shaq. After being traded from the Lakers, Jones went on to have a successful career.

Jones made his third All-Star team in 2000 with the Charlotte Hornets. He posted career-highs in scoring (20.1 ppg), and assists (4.2). That year, he averaged 17 points, five rebounds, and 4.8 assists in the playoffs.

Eddie Jones had a 14-year career that included stops with the Lakers, Hornets, Heat, Grizzlies, and Mavericks. In his career, he averaged 14.8 points, 4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.7 steals.