After two seasons in the NBA, former 19th overall pick Kai Jones was cut from the Hornets after posting a series of bizarre and inappropriate videos on social media. The behavior, which was described as unhinged, made Jones an outcast in the NBA community, but he’s slowly trying to set the record straight.
“People misunderstand others all the time because they think they know everything through social media, like bro that’s just one small part of my life,” said Jones. “I have Instagram on my phone but I do basketball, boxing, yoga, I’m rapping in the studio, I’m singing. I think it’s entertaining… some people make fun of it, some people that it’s the funniest thing ever. Just trying to brighten up some days.”
Kai Jones on people misunderstanding his IG posts:
“IG is just me trying to give you an insight on how I live. It’s just dancing. I think it’s entertaining. Just try to brighten up some people’s days. Being free is the key in life and I just want to be an example of freedom.” pic.twitter.com/NtKjTGdX4S
— Israel (@iohandles) November 23, 2023
There are no signs that Kai Jones will return to the NBA, but it doesn’t seem like he’s eager for a comeback. Despite potentially losing out on millions of dollars, Kai decided to avoid therapy, thinking that he was better off not playing at all than being forced into getting help he clearly didn’t want.
Kai Was Out Of Control
Jones was never on the verge of a breakout season in Charlotte, but he was showing promising signs as a young two-way big man. At 6’11” and 218 pounds, he could have been a solid backup center for the Hornets but it just wasn’t in the cards. Back in September of this year, the 22-year-old went viral for his Instagram live video, where he was accused of taking drugs after showing bizarre and erratic behavior on camera. When his teammates began to unfollow him days later, he put them all on blast in a series of comments on his profile.
For some reason, Kai didn’t stop there. Not only did he later record himself dancing in a dimly-lit parking garage, but he also disrespected NBA legends by claiming he could “destroy” LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal on the basketball court. At this point, fans were more than puzzled by Kai Jones, they were seriously concerned about his mental state. It wasn’t until much later that Jones would shed some light on what was happening in his life at the time, but his antics likely cost him his NBA job.
Kai Jones Vs. Josh Giddey
Amid the ongoing scandal with OKC guard Josh Giddey, fans are questioning if Kai really deserved his exile from the Hornets. While his behavior was no doubt distracting for the team, his wrongdoings do not compare to the accusations currently being made about Josh Giddey, who is still actively playing and practicing with his team as the NBA launches a full-scale investigation.
Already, fans are comparing the two situations and waiting for an explanation on why Kai Jones got kicked out for a couple of weird videos while Giddey is getting the benefit of the doubt. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the two players are on vastly different talent levels and that one has a significantly longer leash than the other. The truth is, unless Kai Jones can show that he’s (at the very least) a quality backup big man, he will likely never return to the NBA. In 2023, there’s just no place for someone whose antics on social media are a bigger story than his play on the court.
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