New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones is keeping it real.
Despite signing a three-year $68 million contract extension with the Pels last July, Jones told reporters during Media Day that he has no plans to upgrade his wardrobe.
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While most players have turned their tunnel entrances into a fashion show, Jones was notorious for consistently wearing free Pelicans gear from team sponsors while entering the arena, which left a reporter asking Jones during the Pelicans’ Media Day if he had already upgraded his wardrobe or was planning to do so.
But Herb merely brushed off the question.
“Nothing changed, nothing changed,” said Jones.
“If my family is good, I’m cool. I don’t really care what anybody says about clothes, especially going to a basketball game. I get it, to each his own, but I just…It was just never… and still to dress up and go to a basketball game. And I was always the guy who said, ‘We just need to get to the gym’ because I mean, you technically…you put your uniform on for five minutes once you get into the locker room,” he said.
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Jones has developed into a solid role player and elite defender
Jones was the Pelicans’ 35th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft after he was named 2021 SEC Player of the Year in Alabama and he’s made an impact in his first four years in New Orleans as he’s averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game in 240 career games played.
Aside from putting up impressive numbers, Jones has also emerged as one of the league’s best defensive stoppers. During the 2023-24 season, he finished fifth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting while making the NBA All-Defensive first team.
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Jones also averaged 1.9 steals per game this past season, which would have ranked 2nd overall in the league behind Dyson Daniels’ 3.0 steals per game, but he played only 20 games after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last January.
Herb took a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
With his new deal, Jones is now owed a total of $97 million over the next five years, including a player option in 2029-30.
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Former Pelicans teammate Josh Hart tweeted at Jones and told him to stop being corny and get some “Dior and ice.”
But as Jones said, he isn’t into fancy clothes, jewelry, or fashion stuff. He just wants to hoop and take care of his family and signing the extension was a blessing for them.
“I wanted to be in New Orleans. I know a lot of people, they probably had a lot to say about the amount or the year, but my family is taken care of. I love New Orleans. They gave me a chance to sign a contract to stay here and I took that chance. It’s nothing like being able to take care of your family, especially coming from where I come from in Alabama. I kinda looked at it as a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so I mean it was definitely a blessing to get that done,” he added.
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Tunnel fits have become a thing in the NBA, with the league even handing out the Michelob ULTRA Style of the Year award, which is voted upon by fans via social media to recognize the player with the best outfits during the season. Not surprisingly, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won that award this past season.
Meanwhile, Jones is content wearing Nike-sponsored Pelicans hoodies and sweatshirts.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.