5 Olympians the Timberwolves should sign to complete the roster
By Austin McGee
3. Carlik Jones - South Sudan
There have only been five triples-doubles recorded in Olympic basketball history and Carlik Jones narrowly missed the cut. In an exhibition match against the United States, Jones dropped 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists in a one-point loss.
Following exhibition play, Jones came close to triple-doubles on two separate occasions. He put together a stat line of 19-7-6 against Puerto Rico then scored 17 points, and handed out 10 assists to go along with five boards against Serbia.
Diehard NBA fans may already be familiar with Jones. He starred for the Radford Highlanders in college before finishing his career suiting up for the Louisville Cardinals. Jones didn't hear his name called in the 2021 NBA Draft, but he quickly made his mark in the G-League. Jones landed on the G-League All-Rookie Team in 2022. After a successful inaugural season, Jones won G-League MVP in 2023—averaging 20.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game.
Although not a native of South Sudan, Jones was naturalized so he could suit up for the Sudanese squad. His inclusion on the team helped put South Sudan on the map. After being established a mere 13 years ago, the Bright Stars won their first Olympic contest against Puerto Rico on July 28.
What makes Jones a contender for an NBA roster spot (besides his fantastic Olympic performance) is his all-around game and G-League success. Jones affects the game in numerous ways despite his small stature. He averaged 5.0 rebounds per game and got most of his buckets near the rim and in the mid-range.