Phill Jones

Early life

Born in Christchurch, Jones grew up in Reefton, where he attended Inangahua College. In 1992, Jones moved to Nelson to play high school basketball at Nelson College.

Early years in the NZNBL

In 1993, Jones debuted in the New Zealand NBL for the Nelson Giants, playing with the club for six seasons. In 1999, Jones played for the Otago Nuggets. After one season with the Nuggets, he re-joined the Giants in 2000 and played for them every year until 2017 (excluding 2005 and 2007).

Professional career

Jones made his professional debut in 1998 with Kouvot of the Finnish Korisliiga. In 2000/01, Jones again played for Kouvot in Finland. He then split the 2001/02 season with Honka Espoo and Kouvot. He spent the 2002/03 season in Italy with Oregon Scientific Cantù before returning to his home country for the 2003/04 season, as he joined the New Zealand Breakers for their inaugural season in the National Basketball League (NBL).

After one season with the Breakers, Jones spent three straight seasons in Italy with Cantù. Jones subsequently missed out on the Giants' 2007 championship after returning from Italy two days too late to complete his five-game requirement to be eligible to join the Nelson roster.

In July 2007, Jones signed a two-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers, returning to the club for a second stint. After being named the 2008/09 NBL Best Sixth Man, the Breakers told him he was surplus to requirements. As a result, in July 2009, Jones signed with the Cairns Taipans. He spent two seasons with the Taipans an helped them reach the NBL Grand Final in 2011, a series the Taipans ironically lost to the Breakers.

Concluding years in the NZNBL

On 10 May 2014, Jones played his 350th game for the Nelson Giants in a loss to the Southland Sharks. Six days later, he tied the all-time record for NBL games played in a loss to the Hawke's Bay Hawks. Jones played his 361st game, tying the record with NBL great Willie Burton who played from 1985 to 2006. On 23 May 2014, he broke Burton's record, playing his 362nd game in a win over the Manawatu Jets. On 27 June 2014, Jones' jersey number 13 was retired by the Giants, and on 4 July 2014, he played his 369th and supposed last game in the Giants' 87–71 semi-final loss to the Wellington Saints.

Following his retirement following the 2014 season, Jones was appointed the Giants' managing director. However, in March 2015, he came out of retirement and re-joined the Giants playing group for the NBL Pre-season Blitz. New head coach Tim Fanning managed to convince Jones to commit for another year, as he joined the squad to add much needed depth for the 2015 season. He continued on with the Giants in 2016 as well, and on 19 March 2016, he passed 7,000 points for his career. On 25 April 2016, he became the first player in New Zealand NBL history to reach 400 games. In September 2016, he called time on his career, this time for good.

Jones continued on with the Giants in 2017 as an assistant coach, as well as filling the Giants' director of operations role. However, on 6 May 2017, the Giants brought Jones out of retirement for game number 407, but he only played eight minutes against the Hawke's Bay Hawks. Two weeks later, on 19 May, he played his second game of the season, once again against Hawke's Bay. In June 2017, his number 13 jersey was retired by the Giants for a second time.

Coaching career

In January 2016, Jones was appointed head coach of the Nelson Sparks, a women's team playing in New Zealand's Women's Basketball Championship (WBC). The Sparks fell short in their quest for a place in the top six, as the finished in seventh place with a 3–6 record.

National team career

In June 2008, after playing for the Tall Blacks for 14 years, Jones retired from international basketball.

Personal

Jones is the son of John and Carol Jones, and has a brother named Johnno. He and his wife, Kat, have three children: Maia, Hayden and Ava.