Tyus Jones: 'I like where I’m at. I like what we have here in DC'

Tyus Jones: People would ask me if I felt like a starter and how I managed being in a backup role, even though I’ve said time after time that I view myself as a starter. When you’ve started, you’ve shown you’re a starter. For me, look at my situation. I was the backup to a Top 5 point guard in the league. I’m also very self-aware and understanding of the situation. I never took it personally or looked at it sideways. I was Ja’s biggest fan. He was mine when I was on the court. There was never any ill will, weirdness, or frustration for me. I understood my role with the team and what they were asking me to do. I also understand that when Ja was out and I was asked to start, what they were asking me to do as well. Being in this league is about keeping a level head and your mind sharp by staying locked in. It’s a long season. There are a lot of ups and downs and moving parts. You’ve got to always be ready whether you’re starting, coming off the bench, playing 40 minutes or four. You’ve got to be ready to maximize every opportunity you get. That’s something I’ve learned throughout my career. That’s what helped me in that stint in Memphis. -via HoopsHype / November 16, 2023

What have been your impressions of Kyle Kuzma as a player and person?  Tyus Jones: He’s a tremendous leader. He takes that very seriously, being the leader of the team, the voice and the face. It’s paid off. He’s hit the ground running this year, how well and consistently he’s playing on both ends of the floor. He’s been extremely vocal. That’s something I think he’s taken a step forward in doing. Guys are following his lead. It’s cool to see because we’ve known each other from high school and college and playing against each other in the league. It’s cool to be on the same team, working together and trying to achieve the same goals. -via HoopsHype / November 16, 2023

This season, Poole and Kuzma face a first attempt to merge into something stirred by floor general Tyus Jones, which Poole has dubbed the “JP-Kuz sauce.” “We’re gonna bring our own little flair to the nation’s capital,” Poole told Yahoo Sports. So does this sauce have a recipe? “Aw, pshhh,” Poole said. “That’s undisclosed information. That’s undisclosed information. I can’t.” OK, they’re secret ingredients? “Yeah, I can’t tell just everybody.” Poole looked incredulous. “The sauce?” Well, one ingredient must be buckets? “Definitely,” Poole grinned. “Definitely the main component is buckets.” -via Yahoo! Sports / November 10, 2023