Former First Round Pick Lands Workout With Miami Heat
Aug 20, 2025
Center Kai Jones, a former first-round pick, had a workout with the Miami Heat this week after playing last season for the Dallas Mavericks.
Basketball insider Chris Haynes wrote on his X account:
"Free agent F/C Kai Jones is working out for the Miami Heat today, league sources tell me. The 2021 first-rounder remains a young, athletic prospect."
Kai Jones would certainly seem like a player worth taking a shot on. He first picked up a basketball 9 years ago when he was 15 years old and living in the Bahamas. By the time he was 16, he was invited to play in a Basketball Without Borders camp.
After impressing at camp, Jones had high school stints in Florida and New Hampshire before he won a scholarship to the University of Texas.
Still learning the game, Jones played two seasons at Texas, relying on his incredible athleticism. The center entered the NBA as a member of the Charlotte Hornets, barely playing there before he played with the Clippers in 2023-2024.
Jones got the most playing time of his career with the Dallas Mavericks last season and he made the most of the 12 games and six starts. The center averaged 11.4 points per game with 6.6 rebounds in a bit over 21 minutes a game.
The Bahamian center is certainly a player worth taking a gamble considering how little basketball was in his background. The Heat may have talent at the 5 with Bam Adebayo and Kel'El Ware, but Jones could be an interesting player to develop.
