Former New York Knicks two-way forward Dillon Jones has earned a place on USA Basketball’s 12-man roster for the fourth qualifying window of the 2026 Men’s World Cup campaign.
Jones joins a group featuring players with experience across the NBA, G League, and international basketball, with veteran coach Terry Stotts leading the team.
The United States will travel to Santiago to face Chile on August 27 before returning home to host Colombia on August 31.
Before departing, Jones and his teammates are completing a five-day training camp in Miami, which runs from August 20 through 24.
New York Knicks Wing Earns International Opportunity
The Knicks brought Jones into the organization in January, signing him to a two-way contract after prying him away from the Rip City Remix, the Portland Trail Blazers‘ G League affiliate.
At the time, the move represented an intriguing addition for New York. Jones had established himself as one of the more productive all-around players at the G League level and appeared to offer considerable upside on the fringes of the roster.
His NBA opportunities remained limited as the Knicks focused on their championship push during the second half of the season. Instead, Jones spent much of his time with Westchester, where he continued to produce.
Across 18 appearances, the 24-year-old averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting 43.0% from the field and an impressive 38.1% from three-point range on 5.8 attempts per game.
Jones returned to the Knicks for Summer League and appeared to have an opportunity to compete for another two-way contract. However, a difficult run in Las Vegas left his immediate future less certain.
Across five games, with New York finishing 1-4, Jones averaged 8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 steals.
An 18-point performance in his third appearance boosted those numbers considerably. Jones failed to score more than six points in any of his other four games and converted just two of his 15 attempts from beyond the arc.
Dillon Jones Gets Fresh Chance to Prove His Value
As things stand, the Knicks have yet to fill any of their three two-way roster spots as the front office continues evaluating potential value on the fringes of the roster ahead of another championship push.
That makes Jones’ opportunity with USA Basketball particularly well timed.
A strong showing on the international stage could provide another reminder of what initially attracted New York to the versatile guard-forward and potentially strengthen his case for a return.
The Knicks’ decision to sign Jones in January reflected the organization’s willingness to search the developmental ranks for overlooked production.
At the time of his arrival, Jones ranked fifth in the G League with 181 assists and 15th with 45 steals. His 193 rebounds were also the most among players listed at point guard.
His versatility was perhaps best demonstrated by three triple-doubles, including a 26-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist performance against the San Diego Clippers in December.
Jones also recorded seven games with double-digit rebounds and eight with at least 10 assists, highlighting an ability to influence games well beyond scoring.
Originally selected by the Washington Wizards with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Jones was subsequently moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder and became an NBA champion in 2025.
He appeared in 54 NBA games as a rookie, averaging 2.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 10.2 minutes per contest.
Jones now enters his third professional season with his immediate NBA future uncertain.
His upcoming stint with USA Basketball, however, provides a valuable platform to remind teams, including the New York Knicks, of the all-around talent that made him such an intriguing developmental prospect in the first place.
Knicks Forgotten Wing Lands Major Opportunity Ahead of Training Camp