Former Knicks 1st-Rounder Signs New Contract Overseas

The 6'11" center was a first-round pick of the New York Knicks in the 2021 NBA Draft (19th overall), but has never really found himself a good landing spot in the league.

With no NBA contract forthcoming for the 2025-26 season, Kai Jones left to play in Turkey for a trial run to start the year. He has chosen to continue his career with a two-year extension with Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Super League and the EuroLeague.

✍️ Başarılı oyuncumuz Kai Jones ile olan sözleşmemizi 2 sezon daha uzattık!#BenimYerimBurası pic.twitter.com/dGCh9hwuFN
— Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) February 15, 2026

Coming off the bench, he's averaged 3.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots per game in 28 contests in Turkey, averaging 14 minutes of floor time per game.

Last season in the NBA, he played 40 games split between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks. In his 12 games with Dallas, he actually got his first true opportunity in the league, playing 21.7 minutes a night. He shot an insane 83.6% from the field, depositing 61 of his 73 field goal attempts (not many of them farther than a few inches from the rim).

He also averaged 11.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in those minutes, actually showing some real potential as a rim-runner, lob threat and versatile defender. But still, there were no NBA offers coming this past offseason.

In Turkey, he's continued to be close to perfect from "the field", converting on 45 of his 47 attempts from the floor for 95.7%. He has also made 10 of 13 free throw attempts for 77%.

For now, the 25-year-old big man from The Bahamas will continue his career in Europe.