Former First Round Pick Departs The NBA for Europe

Back in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kai Jones was selected with the No. 19 overall pick, as the Charlotte Hornets believed they'd found a key piece of their future. Through two seasons with the Hornets, he flashed plenty of potential as well, averaging 3 points and 2 boards in just 9 minutes of game time across 67 games played.

However, his off the court and social media behaviour concerned many, leading the Hornets to move on from him in the off-season of 2024. Then, he would spend last season split between the Clippers and Mavericks, leading him once again to free agency this off-season.

Now, we know where his future lies, and it's not in North America, as the 24-year old is reportedly set to sign a deal in Europe.

According to reports, Jones is set to ink a contract with Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the EuroLeague, a move that is probably the best for his career at this point in time. At 24-years of age, Jones has plenty of time to figure out his game and what he wants out of his career, and a season or two in Europe is likely exactly what he needs to find that.

With Jones averaging no more than 10 minutes per game over an extended stretch in his NBA career, he never truly got the opportunity early in his career, but if he can develop his game, this may be the move that helps his career and takes him to new heights.