Kofi Inkoom
Kai Jones’ future in Charlotte becomes uncertain as Coach Clifford acknowledges his social media posts as an internal matter that has been addressed, with no further elaboration.
Jones’ immediate status with the Charlotte Hornets is shrouded in uncertainty. He hasn’t taken part in any of the optional player sessions, and it remains unclear whether he’ll join the Hornets when training camp kicks off next Tuesday.
The third-year power forward has raised eyebrows with some intriguing social media posts over the past few weeks, including a couple where he publicly criticized some of his teammates.
In a tweet, Jones boldly claimed that he surpasses the skills of Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James, and he has not backed down from that assertion.
Furthermore, an Instagram video shows Jones perspiring heavily, making it challenging to understand his words. This video has gained widespread attention, accumulating over 15 million views.
The hornets always have something with a player Miles Bridges,Montrez Harrel, and now Kai jones man y’all gotta figure this out…🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/nTdxRQ18Am
— treyhoops (@garygickles) September 25, 2023
During a preseason media luncheon on Tuesday, Hornets coach Steve Clifford declined to respond to an inquiry concerning Kai Jones’ unusual conduct in recent weeks.
“We are aware of the social media posts and it’s a situation that’s been handled internally,” Clifford said. He declined further comment.
Two years after the Hornets made a trade to acquire Kai Jones’ draft rights from the New York Knicks and selected him in the first round, his career has arrived at a pivotal moment.
This offseason was expected to be significant for Jones’ growth, which is why the Hornets had him take part in summer league games once again.
MORE : Kai Jones Denies The Use Of Drugs and Alcohol Rumors
Across his first two seasons, spanning 67 games, Jones only managed to average 2.7 points and two rebounds, and he struggled to maintain consistency when given substantial playing time.
Despite the pressure of the summer league, Jones remained adamant that he was mentally sound.
Kai Jones emphasized his enjoyment of basketball during the summer league, stating that he loved waking up every day to play the sport he’s passionate about. However, it’s unclear when or if he will have another opportunity to play for the Hornets.