Suns’ Tyus Jones on being NBA’s leader in assist-to-turnover ratio, fit with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker & Bradley Beal and more (Exclusive)

The Phoenix Suns’ championship fortunes go beyond whether Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal can play enough games together. It also hinges more than whether Suns coach Mike Budenholzer can maximize the team’s roster after the front office determined that Frank Vogel couldn’t.

It also depends on Tyus Jones, who joined the Suns on a one-year, $3 million deal that could work out for both parties. Jones will become the Suns’ definitive starting point guard after mostly serving as a backup in Minnesota (2015-19) and Memphis (2019-23) before starting with the rebuilding Washington Wizards. (2023-24). The Suns finally have a traditional point guard after experiencing mixed results last season with Beal and Booker sharing ball-handling duties.

“He helps the overall team better,” Durant said about Jones. “He’s another guy that can make plays and control the offense. He’s done it in this league for a while now. He’s another guy that commands the offense and commands the team a bit.”

Jones has mastered that role while setting an NBA record for leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio in the past six seasons. He also has set single-season NBA records in that category in 2018-19 (6.96), 2021-22 (7.02) and 2023-24 (7.35).

“He’s a smart player,” Budenholzer said. “I do think that he plays with confidence. I think he’s got every piece of the game. He’s a good shooter. So you have to respect his shot. He’s got the float game. He doesn’t get himself into trouble. He’s fast. But he plays under control. He’s just somebody that I think his game is built to be a high-assist, low-turnover guy. That is good for us.”

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Tyus Jones interview (Exclusive)

Jones spoke to Sportskeeda about the key to maintaining a high assist-to-turnover ratio, how he will fit in with Durant, Booker and Beal and more.

The following one-on-one conversation has been edited and condensed.

How’s training camp treated you so far?

Tyus Jones: “I’m trying to just get acclimated, trying to build the chemistry and trying to get everyone on the same page. There’s a new coaching staff as well. So for the guys that were here, it’s also a lot of new stuff. So just taking it day-by-day and trying to improve each and every day gradually. That’s the focus right now.”

Given your pedigree at point guard, what has the integration process been like with fielding a three-guard lineup with you, Book and Beal?

Tyus Jones: “That’s the same. We’re trying to build the chemistry and try to understand the guys and get a better feel for them and understand where they like the ball and understand where their spots are in the offense. It’s a feel. You’re not going to peak in the preseason. But we’re just trying to gradually build. That’s the goal: trying to understand each other better and better every day. It’s a marathon.”

It's a marathon, but what are your initial impressions on where they like the ball and where they’re most comfortable?

Tyus Jones: “With our Big 3, everyone understands their games. If you’re a fan of basketball, you understand how they play and where they like the ball. So it’s more about picking up the little nuances of their game and trying to be ahead of that learning curve with getting on the same page and making sure our communication is on point. They’re elite basketball players. So for me, I’m trying to understand them to best of my abilities to make their job easy.”

You made that point in your intro presser that they’re going to make your job easier. How do you envision what it looks like they will make things easier for you, and vice versa?

Tyus Jones: “Playing well off each other, understanding the game and understanding what we’re trying to get to. Understanding how we’re trying to manipulate the defense, getting out in transition and get them easy and early looks. So just some small things like that.”

What will be the key to play faster, get more shot attempts and have better looks from 3?

Tyus Jones: “Spacing and understanding their gravity and what they do to defenses. They demand a lot of attention. So it’s about keeping our spacing properly and making sure we’re in sync with our motion and our cutting with drift-aways and shakeups. We have to make sure that we’re all on the same page. With the firepower and guys that we do have, we will be able to generate open looks if we’re all on the same page.”

As dynamic as a three-guard lineup can be, how do you adjust when you face bigger lineups?

Tyus Jones: “That’s also about being on the same page and competing and not leaving anybody out on an island. At the same time, you’re trying to make the other team make adjustments to you. That’s the name of the game. So you’re just trying to be the more physical team and trying to impose your will on the game.”

You’ve been the king of the NBA’s leader in assist-to-turnover ratio. What distinction does that mean to you?

Tyus Jones: “That’s something that I pride myself on. It’s not even the ratio. It’s about not turning the ball over. That’s mainly the focus for me. I’m making sure we get the most quality possessions that we can as a team. That starts with the point guard. So that’s really my focus. It has turned into the focus on the assist-to-turnover ratio. Obviously, the more assists, the better. But for me, it starts with not turning the ball over and making sure we get quality possessions the majority of the time.”

Throughout your career, what has been the key to keep the turnovers down while also helping the team generate the looks you want?

Tyus Jones: “It’s about understanding the game. It’s about understanding the NBA game in general – the rotations, most defensive principles and things like that. But it’s also about understanding schemes and understanding who you’re playing against. And then being a master of your offensive scheme, knowing where guys are supposed to be and knowing the timing of things and knowing how to get guys open looks. You have to have a feel of the game. Who hasn’t gotten a shot or a touch? Who’s hot right now? Who needs to get more touches? It’s things like that. All of that plays a role, so it’s about trying to master that basketball IQ part of the game and of the position.”

As far as your regimen, what things have you found helpful to protect the ball?

Tyus Jones: “Film. A lot of film work. That’s the best way to study your opponent, the best way to study your team and the best way to learn your guys. So I would say a lot of film work. That’s the best way to critique yourself as well. You can further understand what you’re looking for, and what you’re doing on the court.”

When you’re getting swarmed by a defender in real time, what do you try to do to still protect the ball?

Tyus Jones: “Trying to stay poised and trying to stay calm and always in control. That’s something that I’ve generally been able to do my whole life. Just bring a calm and poised demeanor to the court. If you’re doing that from a point-guard standpoint, everyone else can follow suit and follow your lead. So a lot of the stuff starts with the point guard. You got to set the tone in a lot of different areas.”

What will it mean to you that you’re the Suns’ starting point guard after mostly being a backup on other teams?

Tyus Jones: “It means a lot. It’s a good opportunity for me on a great team. That’s what you work for. Ultimately you play to win. For me, coming to a contender, that’s what you work for and that’s what you want. You want to be able to play meaningful basketball and play for a championship at the end of the day. That is what we’re working toward.”

You and Grayson [Allen] shared in your intro presser how Grayson recruited you and told you not to worry about taking his starting spot. What was the recruiting like from him and the Big 3?

Tyus Jones: “It was convos, honestly. It was different conversations with Josh [Bartelstein], Coach Bud or Grayson. KD, Book and Brad all reached out to me as well. All of that went into the decision. The environment and family feel and atmosphere of the Phoenix Suns is ultimately what made me want to be here. It’s that comfortable feeling. Everyone is in it together. I’m very, very happy with my decision.”

What’s your early impressions what makes KD, Book and Beal tick after previously playing against them?

Tyus Jones: “Their work ethic. They are gym rats. They are always in the gym and always working on their game. They love hoop. They love basketball. For me, I am someone who loves basketball. I love being in the gym. I love working on my game. So it’s good to surround myself with those people."

"You also see it on a first-hand basis why they are great. You see why they’ve done the things in this league that they’ve done. So it’s cool to see. It’s also inspiring. They’re going hard on all of their individual work. Their attention to detail is through the roof. You’re around them for one day, and you see why they are great.”

Mark Medina is an NBA insider for Sportskeeda. Follow him on X, Instagram, Facebook and Threads