Another person left the NBA!

According to Alessandro Luigi Maggi, a well-known Italian sports reporter, NBA free agent Kai Jones will soon sign with Italian basketball powerhouse Bologna Vitus, and the 24-year-old inside player will start the European chapter of his career.

This news quickly sparked heated discussions in the basketball circle - after all, Jones' brief performance in the Mavericks last season was eye-catching, but he could not escape the fate of being abandoned by the NBA in the end.

Jones' NBA career is ups and downs. After being selected by the Hornets in the first round of 2021, he has never been able to realize his talent. In 2023, he was even hidden by the team for publicly mocking his teammates and claiming that he "can beat Jordan + James + O'Neal".

Last season, he joined the Clippers with a two-way contract, but averaged only 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game, and was eventually cut. After switching to the Mavericks, Jones unexpectedly got a chance due to injuries to Lefly and Thick Brows - averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in 12 games, shooting as high as 83.6%, and even scored 21 points, 8 rebounds and 9 in a single game against the Kings. However, with the return of the main force, he was marginalized again.

Bologna Vitus has become a "land of redemption" for former NBA players in recent years. In 2024, they signed Kendrick Nunn, who was abandoned by the Lakers, who helped the team win the UEFA Champions League.

Now, they hope Jones can replicate this success. General Manager Claudio Sabatini (who had run Kobe's 2011 Italy Tour) is good at tapping potential stocks, and Jones' athletic ability and cake-eating talent are perfectly adapted to the fast-paced system of European basketball.

For Jones, this signing was both an opportunity and a challenge. His NBA career has been bleak - averaging 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, but his G League averaged 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game proved that he has development potential.

If you can achieve stable output in the European arena, you may still return to the NBA in the future. After all, the Bologna contract usually includes the NBA's jump-out clause, which Nunn had previously returned.

This signing also reflects the cruel reality of the NBA - even if Jones' real shooting percentage (71.4%) surpassed Jokic during the Mavericks, the roughness of the defensive end and personality problems still make him difficult to gain a foothold.

Now, Europe has become his last attempt. Fans can't help but ask: Can this madman who once claimed to be "GOAT" regain the dignity of his career in the Apennines?