Kofi Inkoom
Just a few days ago, Kai Jones’ prospects in Charlotte took an uncertain turn as Coach Clifford acknowledged his social media activity as an internal issue that has been dealt with, without providing any additional details.
Recent reports indicate that the Charlotte Hornets are preparing for an indefinite absence of their 2021 first-round pick, Kai Jones, and there is no set timetable for his return, as reported by Shams Charania.
Jones will be absent from the team’s training camp for unspecified personal reasons, and the organization is maintaining ongoing communication with him.
Kai Jones gained notoriety on Instagram Live in early September, where he was captured perspiring and speaking rapidly, seemingly suggesting that the Hornets had no intentions of trading him.
However, he later vehemently denied any allegations of drug use or intoxication in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on September 11.
Also, in one of his tweets, Jones confidently asserted that his skills surpass those of both Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James, and he has remained steadfast in his stance on this matter.
Furthermore, the third-year power forward attracted attention with a series of intriguing social media posts in recent weeks. Among these, there were a couple where he openly expressed criticism toward some of his fellow teammates.
When questioned about Jones’ social media activity during a media luncheon, Hornets coach Steve Clifford refrained from delving into specifics and remarked,
“We are cognizant of the content shared on social media, and it is a matter that we have addressed internally.”
At the age of 22, Kai Jones was initially chosen as the 19th overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 2021 NBA Draft, subsequently traded to the Hornets.
As a power forward, he has contributed an average of 2.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.3 assists over the course of 67 games with Charlotte.