Carlik Jones has had two terrific summers in a row while playing for South Sudan’s national team. He had 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against the United States in an Olympic tune-up this summer, becoming the first player to ever record a triple-double versus the U.S. Olympic team.
Due to his stellar play, Jones was considered a candidate for an NBA roster spot. He previously spent parts of two seasons in the league, appearing in 12 total regular season games. However, Jones will instead play in the EuroLeague for the first time in his career.
According to a report from Eurohoops.net, Jones did in fact receive NBA interest from teams this offseason.
“There were a few offers from the NBA, but not as many as reported,” Jones said. “Many people were worried and nervous, but you shouldn’t believe everything that is written. It’s true that I received some offers, but I knew from the beginning that Partizan was the ideal club for me. It seemed like the best decision.”
Jones said he appreciated that KK Partizan, the team who signed him, was straightforward about his potential role.
We have more international notes:
- Former first-round pick Usman Garuba recently signed a contract with Real Madrid, marking a return to the club for the former Rockets and Warriors forward, who was born and raised in Madrid. “It’s an incredible feeling to return to what has been my home since I was 10 or 11 years old,” Garuba said, as relayed by Eurohoops.net. “Being able to come back here is a dream for me. I’m very happy and looking forward to it. For me, Real Madrid has been everything from the very first moment. I have developed here in every sense, both academically and as a player. I have to thank this club for everything I am today,” Garuba averaged 2.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 105 games.
- Former Grizzlies forward Killian Tillie signed with Unicaja Malaga in Spain, as Eurohoops.net relays. Tillie played in 54 games with the Grizzlies between 2020-22 and most recently participated in Summer League with the Celtics. Tillie’s return to professional basketball comes after two-and-a-half years of rehab from various injuries, including back surgery. He reportedly drew interest from NBA teams earlier this offseason.
- In case you missed it, former Bucks guard Jaylin Galloway is returning to the Sydney Kings, the NBL team he played for before making the jump to the NBA.
His triple double against the US wasn’t at the Olympics but in London a week earlier in the exhibition game South Sudan almost won. At the Olympics he had a points-assists double double against Serbia and averaged 18-5-7.7, not too shabby, but not amongst the very few with Olympics triple doubles (Lebron, Luka, Jokic and some Russian in the 70s).