LAS VEGAS — Dillon Jones logged zero minutes in the NBA Finals but made his contributions to the title as a pseudo-adviser to coach Mike Brown.
As a member of the 2025 championship Thunder, Jones offered experience in how to deal with the circumstances.
Brown not only sought his young player’s counsel, he implemented at least one suggestion by making the Knicks rewatch their Game 3 loss to the Spurs.
The Thunder did something similar for motivation a year prior when Jones was a reserve guard.
“With coach, honestly, it speaks a lot to just him more than me and whatever I had to say,” Jones said Monday after he helped the summer league squad defeat the Pistons 86-75. “The fact that he would even approach me and have a conversation with me or even ask me to help in any way. … I just think it speaks to him more than me — his humility to hear everybody out in the building. And I’m just glad I was able to help the team in any way.”
Dillon Jones dribbling the ball for the New York Knicks during an NBA Summer League game. NBAE via Getty Images
Jones said the idea to rewatch Game 3 came up in “organic conversations” with Brown.
“Nothing specific. Just conversations me and coach had,” Jones said. “And we were just talking about different things, and it came up in an organic conversation. It wasn’t like I was just sitting home plotting on what to say or anything like that. … These things — you try different things all the time. You never know what works and what doesn’t. I’m glad I was able to help the team.”
Dillon Jones and Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a championship celebration. GC Images
Jones is now fighting for a training camp invite.
Mohamed Diawara (left ring finger injury) and Pacôme Dadiet (right foot soreness) both sat Monday, but the Knicks didn’t miss them — riding rookie Jack Kayil to their first summer league win.
Kayil, a second-round pick who played last season in Germany, dropped a team-high 19 points with three steals in 29 minutes.
“Very talented kid. Super gifted,” Jones said. “One thing I appreciate with him — obviously, he wasn’t available early in summer league but when he came in the group, he knew what was going on, he understood what was going on. I think that speaks to his upbringing and coming up in Europe. Very talented kid. … He’s not going there trying to overshadow. … He’s got a bright future.”
Kayil arrived late to summer league because of a contract dispute with his German club. He said he doesn’t want to be stashed overseas this season.
Another free agent center is off the board.
Or is he?
Jonas Valanciunas appeared to push back on an overseas report that he finalized a deal to sign with Lithuanian squad BC Zalgiris, posting on social media with laughing emojis, “You wake up and see that everything has been decided for you, don’t need to do anything myself. Thank you, reporters.”
Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas dribbles the basketball during a game against Italy. IPA / SplashNews.com
Still, Valanciunas’ signing with Zalgiris — while maybe not finalized — remains expected, according to BasketNews.
Valanciunas, 34, is a free agent after being waived by the Nuggets. He’s reportedly targeted by the Knicks, who are thin at center with only Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond on the roster.
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