The New Orleans Pelicans’ Herb Jones is returning to his high school roots in Alabama

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones is going back to high school – at least in numbers.

In his fourth NBA season, the former Alabama star will wear No. 2 on his jersey, just like he did when he played for Sunshine and Hale County as a teenager.

Jones gave up the No. 5 pick after the Pelicans acquired former NBA All-Star Dejounte Murray in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in July.

“When I saw the trade come together, I knew we had to talk about it at some point,” Jones said. “…I looked at what jersey number he wore in college and I saw he wore number 5 for as long as I remember or saw it on the internet. And when he responded, it was a no-brainer for him. I suspected there was a deeper meaning behind why he wore #5. And I didn’t ask for anything; I just accepted it. And when I wore No. 2 in high school, when I found out No. 2 was available, I was like, ‘You got it.’ I don’t really trip over a jersey number.”

Jones and Murray could take the court as teammates for the first time on Monday when the Pelicans open their NBA preseason schedule with a home game against the Orlando Magic at 12:30 p.m. CDT.

“It’ll be fun,” Jones said of playing with Murray. “I know he loves competing and this ticks all the boxes for me. As long as you love competing and winning, I think we’ll be good.”

The Pelicans posted a 49-33 record last season before being defeated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

From that team, New Orleans retired its top four scorers in points per game average and added Murray, who scored a record 22.5 points per game in the 2023-24 season.

But the Pelicans parted ways with leading rebounder and shot blocker Jonas Valanciunas after three seasons in a trade with the Washington Wizards.

The downsize could see Jones use his All-NBA Defensive Team skills at times to guard the opposing center.

“Whatever they ask me to do, whoever they want me to guard, I have no problem with it,” Jones said. “I’m going to go out there and do my best regardless of who I’m supposed to be guarding. It really doesn’t matter. As long as the group out there understands the mission, I think we’ll be fine.”

New Orleans signed veteran center Daniel Theis in the offseason, but he is 6-foot-10, the same height as Jones, although Theis is 35 pounds heavier than Jones.

The Pelicans have three 6-11 players, including former Hoover High School and UAB star Trey Jemison, who is on a two-way contract after moving from the Birmingham Squadron to 14 starts for the Memphis Grizzlies last season. New Orleans also has Karlo Matkovic and Yves Missi, who have never played in a regular-season NBA game.

The Pelicans’ only other player taller than 6-8 is 6-9 Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who has made 57 starts in three NBA seasons, including one start for New Orleans last season.

“I think it was good,” Jones said of his team’s work at training camp in Nashville. “It was super competitive. I love how we look whether there’s a big guy on the floor or not. I think we’ll continue to learn, I wouldn’t say a new system, but just try to learn how to tie it together. But I think it will take a while and I think the training camp will be very helpful.”

In addition to earning All-Defensive honors last season, Jones also averaged 11.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

“I’m just trying to become a more consistent and efficient player across the board,” Jones said, “and also improve as a leader, especially on the defensive side of the ball. “I just try to help guys no matter what way they need help. I want to be able to help anyone who needs help getting healthy. And I think a lot of that is going to start with me showing up every day and knowing my teammates that they’re going to get the same thing, they’re going to get the same guy every day no matter what part of the season we’re in Day 1 or Game 1 to Game 82. I want to be the same consistent guy every day.”

Last season, Jones set career highs with a .498 shooting percentage and .867 free throw percentage. While Jones hit 56.8 percent of his 2-point shots, his 3-point accuracy increased to 41.8 percent.

“I wasn’t a great shooter,” Jones said, “and I knew it would take some time before I could go out and knock down shots. I didn’t set the bar on being a 40 percent 3-point shooter. But when it comes to work, I don’t think anything is impossible. And that’s exactly how I approach it. And this year I’m not setting myself the bar of reaching 40 percent again. I’m just going to continue to work hard every day and make the open shots, the good ones with confidence.”

Following a four-game preseason schedule, the Pelicans will open the 2024-25 season against the Chicago Bulls on October 23 at 7 p.m. at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.