Dunking With Wolves
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Five Things to Know About Tyus Jones

By Sam Nygaard

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Tyus Jones #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in action during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Tyus Jones #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in action during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 8: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Tyus Jones #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk during the 2015 NBA rookie photo shoot on August 8, 2015 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Mike Stobe/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 8: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Tyus Jones #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk during the 2015 NBA rookie photo shoot on August 8, 2015 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Mike Stobe/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Best Friends

30 years ago, it’s highly unlikely that two eight-year-old AAU basketball players from across the country would have met each other. However, that’s how Tyus Jones met his best friend, 76ers star Jahlil Okafor.

Story has it, Jones and Okafor met at in the bathroom of an AAU tournament when they were both 8 years old. Jones was blown away at how Okafor could be so tall and also be the same age as himself. After that, the rest was history.

Although the two stars met in third grade, they didn’t become close friends until they played together on the U-16 USA national team. Although Jones lived in Minnesota and Okafor lived in Chicago, they would talk about recruiting a lot when they were in high school. They would text each other almost every day and they eventually decided that they were going to play together in college and be recruited as a package deal.

Jones and Okafor had most of the same schools recruiting them, so they went on visits together and talked to coaches together. Okafor was asked about being recruited as a package deal and said,

"“I think what was different about Tyus and I was the fact that our families were involved… We’re all just one big family. I consider his mom my second mom.”"

Obviously, they committed to Duke eventually and achieved their dream of playing together. Their NBA bromance is unrivaled.

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