New NBA Blue Devil Teammates Tally Combined Triple-Double

Originally posted on FanNation Blue Devil Country
By Matt Giles | Last updated 1/19/24

On Thursday night, two Duke basketball talents teased their potential to be wizardly on the same squad.

Washington Wizards guard and 2014-15 one-and-done national champion Tyus Jones dished out a career-high 15 assists, along with four rebounds, three steals, and only one turnover across his 37 minutes of action.

Granted, the 27-year-old's efforts came in a 113-109 road loss to the New York Knicks. Moreover, Jones added only two points, finishing 1-for-6 from the field.

But his brilliant efficiency as a distributor bolstered his league lead in assist-to-turnover ratio, a title he's secured in each of the past five years. Among those who have played at least 20 games, Jones' 6.85 ratio prevails over No. 2 on the list in Minnesota Timberwolves veteran playmaker Mike Conley's 6.34 mark.

Meanwhile, Tyus Jones' new NBA Blue Devil teammate, 24-year-old big man Marvin Bagley III, posted a points-rebounds double-double in his Washington debut.

Bagley, who arrived from the Detroit Pistons via trade this week, received a team-high 39 minutes as a starter alongside Jones, a full-time first-teamer in his first season with the Wizards.

That's a promising sign for the too-often-benched Bagley, a former No. 2 overall draft pick following his 2017-18 Duke basketball campaign as the nation's premier freshman. After all, the sixth-year pro's playing time on Thursday night amounted to six minutes more than he saw in any of his 26 appearances for the Pistons.

And it's safe to say Bagley delivered on the opportunity, to the tune of 20 points, 11 boards, two assists, two steals, and three blocks. He shot 10-for-16 from the field, albeit an 0-for-5 clip at the charity stripe.

Jones, Bagley, and the Wizards (7-33) look to build on the positives at 7 p.m. ET Saturday when they host the San Antonio Spurs (7-33), whose starting floor general of late is Tyus Jones' younger brother in 2018-20 Blue Devil sensation Tre Jones.

This article first appeared on FanNation Blue Devil Country and was syndicated with permission.

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