Terrence Jones is a native of one of the country's most passionate NBA cities (Portland), but he's also very much at home in New Orleans, where he has approximately 100 relatives. His mother Linda was born in the Crescent City, before moving to the West Coast with her family as a youngster. After winning an NCAA championship for the University of Kentucky in 2012 – paired in the Wildcats' frontcourt with Anthony Davis – Jones has spent his entire NBA career in the Gulf South, playing the previous four seasons with Houston. The 24-year-old sat down with Pelicans.com to discuss his background and some of his interests away from basketball:
Best moment as an athlete: “Winning a national title in college with Kentucky.”
How he chose his current uniform number of 9: “I have the same birthday as my son, Jan. 9. That's why I'm wearing it.”
Something fans might be surprised to know about him: “That I'm a great domino player and that I love going to the movies. I go to the movies probably twice a week.”
Favorite thing about New Orleans: “The food, of course.”
Pregame ritual: “Taking a nap, relaxing my mind. Then waking up and getting some food and listening to music.”
First job: “Cleaning graffiti off of the buses and bus stops in Portland.”
Favorite athletes as a kid: “Damon Stoudamire and Magic Johnson. Damon, because he's my cousin and I got to see how much work he put into becoming an NBA player. It made me very inspired and motivated to be able to do it myself. I went to his games when he played for the Trail Blazers in Portland. I say Magic because it didn't seem like anyone had as much fun as he did playing the game of basketball.”
What he'd be doing if he weren't an NBA player: “I would be in the NFL. Football was my second-favorite sport. I loved football just as much as basketball for a very long time, until I had to decide which one I wanted to pursue a career in.”
Closest friends currently playing on other NBA teams and other pro sports: “Terrence Ross of the Toronto Raptors is a guy who I played with in Portland since we were in sixth grade. Kenneth Acker, who plays cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs, was on the same team in Portland as me since probably fourth grade.”
Favorite type of music: “I have a diverse selection of music. I like old-school hip-hop, R&B, a little bit of country – that Kentucky side of me – a lot of music.”
Favorite TV show: “Right now, it's Power. Going back, it was The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, Diff'rent Strokes.
Favorite movies of all time: “The Wood, Friday, Next Friday, Bad Boys, Bad Boys II, House Party.”
