NOP

2025-26 Season

HERBERT JONES

New Orleans Pelicans | Forward | 6-7
Herbert Jones
8.9 PPG
3.4 RPG
2.8 APG
28.7 MPG
-3.4 Impact

Jones produces at an below average rate for a 29-minute workload. Elite defensive value (+3.1/game) is a major strength.

NET IMPACT BREAKDOWN
Every stat, every credit, every cost — per game average
-3.4
Scoring +4.3
Points 8.9 PPG × +1.00 = +8.9
Missed 2PT 2.1/g × -0.78 = -1.6
Missed 3PT 3.2/g × -0.87 = -2.8
Missed FT 0.2/g × -1.00 = -0.2
Creation +2.5
Assists 2.8/g × +0.50 = +1.4
Off. Rebounds 0.9/g × +1.26 = +1.1
Turnovers -2.5
Turnovers 1.3/g × -1.95 = -2.5
Defense +3.1
Steals 1.6/g × +2.30 = +3.7
Blocks 0.5/g × +0.90 = +0.5
Def. Rebounds 2.6/g × +0.30 = +0.8
Fouls Committed 2.5/g × -0.75 = -1.9
Hustle & Effort +4.1
Contested Shots 3.8/g × +0.20 = +0.8
Deflections 3.5/g × +0.65 = +2.3
Loose Balls 0.5/g × +0.60 = +0.3
Screen Assists 0.4/g × +0.30 = +0.1
Off. Fouls Drawn 0.2/g uncredited × +2.70 = +0.6
Raw Impact +11.5
Baseline (game-average expected) −14.9
Net Impact
-3.4
7th pctl vs Forwards

About this model: Net Impact can't measure floor spacing, help defense rotations, or playmaking gravity — so wings and guards are slightly undervalued vs bigs. How Net Impact works

SKILL DNA

Percentile rank vs 227 Forwards with 10+ games

Scoring 47th
8.9 PPG
Efficiency 11th
48.7% TS
Playmaking 80th
2.8 APG
Rebounding 33th
3.4 RPG
Rim Protection 50th
0.14/min
Hustle 91th
0.14/min
Shot Creation 50th
0% pullup
TO Discipline 52th
0.05/min

THE SEASON SO FAR

A brutal offensive slump defined the start of Herbert Jones’s season, frequently dragging his elite point-of-attack defense into the red. An uncharacteristically disastrous offensive showing completely tanked his value on 10/24 vs SAS, where he missed all eight of his shots to finish with a dismal -18.5 impact score. Opponents quickly realized they could simply ignore him on the perimeter. This strategy yielded a -11.4 impact score on 11/14 vs LAL, where his horrific 1-for-8 shooting from deep allowed defenders to aggressively sag off him and clog the paint. Even though he managed 13 points in that contest, those hidden spacing costs completely ruined his overall footprint. Yet, when his offensive execution finally stabilized, his trademark defensive devastation took over. He delivered an absolute two-way masterclass on 12/18 vs HOU, generating a towering +14.8 impact score. While his 18 points were certainly helpful, it was his suffocating coverage and relentless disruptions that truly drove that massive net positive.

An agonizing offensive slump and erratic perimeter shooting defined Herbert Jones’s mid-season stretch, turning one of the league's premier stoppers into a frequent overall liability. Even when his shot occasionally fell, hidden costs dragged him down, as seen on 02/28 vs UTA when underlying mistakes entirely erased a 17-point, 8-rebound outburst to leave him with a -1.1 impact score. Total offensive invisibility routinely punished his value. During a bleak outing on 01/23 vs MEM, he failed to score a single point or grab a rebound, cratering his net impact to -11.1. Yet, his elite defensive instincts occasionally salvaged his night when his jumper completely abandoned him. On 02/24 vs GSW, Jones shot an abysmal 1-for-8 from the floor for just 5 points, but still scraped together a +0.7 impact score by putting on an absolute masterclass in perimeter containment to erase primary creators. He remains a terror at the point of attack, but this stretch exposed how drastically his value collapses when he cannot hit an open three or punish closeouts.

IMPACT TIMELINE

Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.

PATTERNS

Inconsistent. Jones has clear good-night/bad-night splits, with scoring swinging ~5 points between games. You're never quite sure which version shows up.

Streaky shooter — only cracks 45% from the field in 27% of games. Efficiency is all over the place night-to-night.

Defensive difference-maker. Jones consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.

In a rough stretch — 7 straight games with negative impact. Longest cold streak this season: 8 games.

MATCHUP HISTORY

Based on 55 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.

ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM

His shooting stats against each primary defender this season

L. Dončić 102.1 poss
FG% 28.6%
3P% 28.6%
PPP 0.11
PTS 11
C. Flagg 97.2 poss
FG% 58.8%
3P% 66.7%
PPP 0.24
PTS 23
FG% 40.0%
3P% 42.9%
PPP 0.22
PTS 15
C. Spencer 59.8 poss
FG% 50.0%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.07
PTS 4
B. Ingram 54.7 poss
FG% 14.3%
3P% 25.0%
PPP 0.05
PTS 3
H. Barnes 45.8 poss
FG% 25.0%
3P% 14.3%
PPP 0.11
PTS 5
T. Maxey 44.0 poss
FG% 25.0%
3P% 33.3%
PPP 0.07
PTS 3
R. Westbrook 43.6 poss
FG% 12.5%
3P% 14.3%
PPP 0.11
PTS 5
D. Fox 42.6 poss
FG% 16.7%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.05
PTS 2
D. Vassell 41.3 poss
FG% 20.0%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.05
PTS 2

ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED

How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.

L. Dončić 98.7 poss
FG% 46.7%
3P% 33.3%
PPP 0.19
PTS 19
C. Flagg 84.9 poss
FG% 50.0%
3P% 20.0%
PPP 0.14
PTS 12
FG% 45.5%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.21
PTS 16
K. Durant 71.8 poss
FG% 88.9%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.28
PTS 20
B. Ingram 70.7 poss
FG% 22.2%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.08
PTS 6
D. Fox 62.9 poss
FG% 40.0%
3P% 33.3%
PPP 0.11
PTS 7
J. Harden 57.7 poss
FG% 22.2%
3P% 20.0%
PPP 0.09
PTS 5
T. Maxey 56.7 poss
FG% 37.5%
3P% 25.0%
PPP 0.12
PTS 7
D. Booker 43.3 poss
FG% 42.9%
3P% 0.0%
PPP 0.21
PTS 9
C. Spencer 42.7 poss
FG% 83.3%
3P% 80.0%
PPP 0.33
PTS 14

SEASON STATS

54
Games
8.9
PPG
3.4
RPG
2.8
APG
1.6
SPG
0.5
BPG
38.4
FG%
30.8
3P%
80.0
FT%
28.7
MPG

GAME LOG

54 games played