NBA D-League coach Dean Cooper has guided and watched Steve Francis, Andre Miller, Jeremy Lin, Randy Foye and Patrick Beverley, among others, during a 17-year career in professional basketball, so he knows what an NBA point guard looks like.
He has seen Timberwolves rookie Tyus Jones play six games for Utah’s Idaho D-League affiliate in an assignment expected to end, at least for now, this weekend, after Saturday’s game in Santa Cruz, Calif. Jones entered Saturday averaging 23.6 points, 5.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 35.8 minutes a game.
A former Wolves assistant coach and scout, Cooper talked Thursday about Jones’ first real pro playing opportunity.