1 Floor, 1 realistic, 1 dream player comparison for Kings’ Colby Jones
By Logan Struck
Dream Comparison: Josh Hart
While Josh Hart is not a star, and readers may think this sets the bar too low for Colby Jones, a Josh Hart role is likely Jones’ ceiling. In Josh Hart’s career-best season, 2021-22, he averaged 14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while splitting his season between the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers. His 50/34/76 shooting splits were not his most efficient, but he played a career-high 33 minutes per game.
Josh Hart is everything a team wants out of a role player. In the New York Knicks playoff run last season, Hart might have been their most valuable player outside of Jalen Brunson.
The 6’4″ shooting guard has developed into a great player since coming into the league. After being drafted 30th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, Hart did not have high expectations. He was in a similar situation as Colby Jones is now, except Jones got drafted by a winning team where he will have to fight for his minutes.
Josh Hart and Colby Jones are both incredible, versatile defenders who can guard the 1-3. Hart has valued his defensive game, and that is where he earned his minutes early on, to where he could start focusing on his offensive development. Colby Jones needs to do the same, as he might need to come into Sacramento as a 3-and-D player, but as he earns his playing time, he will blossom into a playmaker and versatile scorer.
Josh Hart’s scoring, playmaking, and rebounding have all improved year after year, as Colby Jones is coming into the league with NBA-ready traits, but we expect to have similar development as Hart.
Both Hart and Jones played college in the Big East and are coming into the league with similar expectations. If Colby Jones can develop into a Josh Hart-level player, it would be best case scenario for the Sacramento Kings.
