Dahntay Jones

Lore & Background

Jones' path to Cleveland was paved with resilience. Signed on April 13, 2016, he debuted in a 112–110 loss to the Detroit Pistons, recording 13 points and five rebounds. His journey took a dramatic turn during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals when he struck Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo in the groin on the final possession, leading to a suspension for Game 4. Despite this, the Cavaliers advanced to the 2016 NBA Finals, where Jones saw early minutes in Game 6 due to foul trouble among teammates. He finished that pivotal game with five points and one block as Cleveland completed their comeback. The following season proved even more turbulent; after being waived and re-signed multiple times, he played just three minutes in a playoff game against the Raptors on May 1, 2017. There, he received back-to-back technical fouls for trash-talking Norman Powell, resulting in an ejection with 18.7 seconds remaining. LeBron James covered the $6,000 fine since Jones earned only the veteran's minimum of $9,127. His final NBA game came on June 9, 2017, a 137–116 win over Golden State where he grabbed one rebound in two minutes.

In Their Own Story

The tension in Cleveland was palpable as the Cavaliers fought to close out the 2016 NBA Finals. With teammates in foul trouble, Dahntay Jones stepped into the rotation for Game 6 against the Warriors. He didn't need to score big; he just needed to hold his ground. Months later, during the 2017 playoffs, Jones found himself in hot water again. After being ejected for talking trash to Norman Powell, teammate LeBron James stepped in to cover his $3,000 fines per technical foul. It was a moment that defined their bond—leadership extending beyond the court. Even as the team lost the 2017 Finals in five games, Jones remained a constant presence through waivers and re-signings, embodying the grit required to compete at the highest level.

Reader's Guide

During his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dahntay Jones served primarily as a veteran role player who contributed through defense and timely scoring. He signed with the team on April 13, 2016, debuting with 13 points in a loss to the Pistons. His most significant contribution came during the 2016 NBA Finals, where he played key minutes in Game 6, finishing with five points, one rebound, and one block as Cleveland completed a historic 3–1 comeback against Golden State. The following season, his role became more volatile; he was waived and re-signed multiple times but still made an impact in the playoffs. In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on May 1, 2017, he played three minutes before being ejected for two technical fouls after trash-talking Norman Powell. His final NBA appearance occurred on June 9, 2017, in a blowout win over the Warriors where he recorded one rebound in two minutes of play.

Did You Know?

• Jones was suspended for Game 4 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals after striking Bismack Biyombo in the groin on the final possession of Game 3.
• LeBron James covered Jones' $6,000 in fines (two $3,000 technical fouls) from a playoff ejection because Jones only earned $9,127 that postseason.
• Jones won his first NBA championship with the Cavaliers in 2016 after they came back from a 3–1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors.
• His final NBA game was Game 4 of the 2017 Finals on June 9, where he played only two minutes and recorded one rebound in a blowout victory.
• Jones was waived and re-signed by Cleveland three times between July 30, 2016, and April 12, 2017.