Brotherhood on the Hardwood: Tyus and Tre Jones Share NBA Spotlight as Suns Face Spurs

Phoenix Suns point guard Tyus Jones reflected on the unique experience of sharing the NBA stage with his younger brother, Tre Jones, a backup point guard for the San Antonio Spurs. “It’s something we don’t take for granted,” Tyus said ahead of the Suns’ NBA Cup clash against the Spurs. He described their dual presence in the league as “surreal.”

While the game on Tuesday would have marked their 11th NBA matchup, Tre was ruled out due to a left shoulder sprain. Tyus holds a commanding 9-1 advantage in their head-to-head meetings, a fact he acknowledged with a grin. “I didn’t know the exact number, but I knew there was only one loss,” Tyus recalled, referring to a January 2023 defeat while playing for Washington.

This season, Tyus is making an impact in Phoenix, averaging 11.5 points and a team-high 7.2 assists, while Tre has been limited by injuries, averaging 4.1 points and 3.3 assists across eight games. Despite their different trajectories, both rank among the NBA’s top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio.

The Jones brothers are also linked by their time at Duke, where Tyus led the team to a national title in 2015, and Tre earned accolades as ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. They join other active NBA brother pairs, including the Balls, Thompsons, Williams, and Toppins.

Although they aren’t teammates, Tyus celebrated Chris Paul’s offseason move to San Antonio, viewing it as a valuable mentorship opportunity for Tre. “Who better to learn from than Chris Paul?” Tyus said, praising Paul’s ability to influence winning.

Tuesday’s game marked Paul’s second return to Phoenix since his trade in 2023. The former Suns point guard remains a key contributor for the Spurs, averaging 10.7 points and 8.3 assists while mentoring rookie star Victor Wembanyama. Tyus commended Paul’s basketball IQ and ongoing impact despite his age, emphasizing the challenge of minimizing Paul’s influence on the game.

The Suns, led by their Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, aim to build on the franchise’s rich legacy, with memories of their 2021 Finals run and 64-win season still fresh.