It's still very early into the season, but Tre Jones has emerged as a frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award. He's averaging career highs in numbers across the board on unbelievable efficiency and giving the Chicago Bulls a huge defensive boost, which is leading directly to wins. If he can keep this up, Jones will be in line to win the first major award of his career.
Jones has been terrific to start the season and has racked up averages of 13.0 points and 8.3 assists per game through three games. He's also leading the entire league in steals at 3.3 per game, which has helped the Bulls lock down the perimeter. Although the overall team defense definitely still has its warts, Jones is helping keep the team alive on that end with his disruptive playmaking.
Tre Jones is perfect offensively and defensively for Chicago
His steals are extremely important not only for the obvious defensive benefit of stopping a play, but also for the fastbreak opportunities that they produce. The Bulls were one of the league's best transition teams a season ago, and still have the same transition scoring threats that thrive in the open court. Jones also frequently pushes the pace even on normal misses, and can get the ball up the court quickly through his own dribble or outlet passing.
When it comes to scoring, Jones looks like he has taken a clear leap. His shooting splits are eye-catching: 52.0 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three. And it's no accident. Jones creates great looks for himself and others by probing the defense when he has the ball, and constantly moving when he doesn't. One of his biggest skills on display this season is relocation—he will often move to the right area of the court for an open three after passing the ball to a teammate.
Being able to blend on-ball and off-ball scoring like Jones does gives him immense value. He provides the Bulls with different options on offense using his versatility. If Josh Giddey needs to sit or play off-ball, Jones can step up as the lead guard. But he can also be a dangerous threat when Giddey is the one with the ball in his hands, too.
Jones has also looked comfortable running Chicago's offense for extended periods. His 8.3 assists per game, against 2.3 turnovers, show that he's creating opportunities for teammates without making many mistakes. He's comfortable running pick-and-rolls and making the right reads, whether it's hitting the roller with a slick bounce pass or a cross-court skip pass to an open shooter. Jones has given the Bulls another advanced decision-maker who keeps the offense humming.