Season stats: 2025-26. Updated 6 h ago.
Herbert Jones Enters 2026-27 Healthy, Looking to Build On a Down Year
newsroom · 1 h agoHerbert Jones heads into the 2026-27 season with the Pelicans off the injury report and no restrictions. New Orleans hasn't opened its schedule yet, so the numbers on hand are from last season, when Jones played 56 games. The defensive-minded forward is looking to bounce back after a 2025-26 campaign where his shooting numbers dipped.
Where Things Stand
Herbert Jones is set to open the 2026-27 season with the New Orleans Pelicans, wearing his usual number 2. The 27-year-old forward, listed at 6-7 and 206 pounds, is entering his sixth NBA season out of Alabama. He is not on the injury report, with no restrictions heading into the year. The Pelicans have not yet tipped off their 2026-27 schedule, so there is no game-by-game form to look at yet. Everything on his production side right now comes from last season's tape, which is the best guide for what New Orleans can expect from him once games begin. The opener is coming, and Jones projects as a rotation piece from the jump given his health status.
Last Season By The Numbers
In 2025-26, Jones appeared in 56 games for New Orleans, averaging 28.4 minutes a night. He posted 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, with 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks. His turnover rate stayed low at 1.3 per game. Shooting-wise, it was a rougher year: 38.3 percent from the field, 30.9 percent from three-point range, and 80.6 percent from the foul line, adding up to a 49.1 true shooting percentage. His usage rate sat at 15.3 percent, and his plus-minus was -0.9. Those are the numbers Jones takes into 2026-27, and they set the bar for what would count as a bounce-back season for the wing.
Role Heading Into 2026-27
Jones' game has never been about scoring volume, and last season's 15.3 usage rate reflects that. He is a low-turnover, high-activity wing who logs heavy minutes, evidenced by his 28.4 minutes per game last year despite modest counting stats. The 1.6 steals per game stand out as a marker of his defensive instincts, a trait that has defined his profile since college at Alabama. With five seasons of NBA experience now under his belt, Jones is no longer a newcomer finding his footing; he is an established piece of New Orleans' rotation. The shooting slump from 2025-26, particularly the 30.9 percent mark from three, is the swing factor for how much offensive value he adds this time around.
Injury Report
Jones is not on the injury report as the 2026-27 season approaches. There is no injury history on file for him. That clean bill of health matters given how physical and switch-heavy his role tends to be on the defensive end. Staying available was part of the story last season too, with Jones getting into 56 games. A healthy start to training camp and the preseason schedule gives New Orleans a clear look at what he can provide in the frontcourt rotation from day one, without the uncertainty that comes with working a player back from injury.
Season Outlook
With no current-season stats yet on the books, the storyline for Jones in 2026-27 is straightforward: stay healthy and find more efficiency than he did in 2025-26. His per-game defensive numbers, 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks, along with a low 1.3 turnovers per game, suggest a player whose value shows up outside the box score. The shooting numbers, 38.3 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from three last season, are the clearest area to watch for improvement. As New Orleans opens its schedule, Jones' minutes and role should mirror last season's workload of 28.4 minutes a night, barring changes not reflected in the data on hand.
Questions fans ask
Is Herbert Jones injured heading into the 2026-27 season?
No. He is not on the injury report, and there is no injury history on file for him.
What team does Herbert Jones play for?
The New Orleans Pelicans. He also played for New Orleans last season.
What number does Herbert Jones wear?
He wears number 2.
How did Herbert Jones perform last season?
In 2025-26, Jones played 56 games for the Pelicans, averaging 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 28.4 minutes, while shooting 38.3 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from three.
How many years of NBA experience does Herbert Jones have?
He is entering his sixth season, with five seasons of experience listed, after playing college ball at Alabama.
Has the Pelicans' 2026-27 season started yet?
Based on available data, the season is still approaching; there are no current-season stats or recent games listed yet, so the opener is still coming.
Game log
last 0| Date | Opp | Result | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | FG | 3P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No games logged yet this season. | |||||||||