Ep. 62: 2002 first-round pick Fred Jones

Fred Jones has mostly remained in Indianapolis since his playing days. He was drafted 14th overall by the Pacers out of the University of Oregon in 2002 and spent four years with the franchise. He then played four more years with four different teams. This summer, Jones started Shoot 360 in Indianapolis, which is “shaping the future of basketball development through interactive technology that allows our athletes to test, train, track, and compete like never before.” It is a relatively new company currently with four franchises; the other three are on the west coast (Washington, Oregon, and California). The grand opening in Indy was on June 3, 2017. Inside his facility on the north west side of Indy at 8090 Georgetown Road, Jones has one NBA-regulation floor, and then dozens of hoops. Each hoop is attached to a big monitor that will keep track of makes and provide continuous instruction. There’s also interactive screens that offer games to practice passing skills and more. (Jones also has an ownership stake in The Luxury Sneaker Exchange on Mass Ave. downtown.) There’s a mobile app that will keep track of your work and where you can sign up for their one-hour sessions. As Jones explains, it is best understood by stopping by and taking advantage of their free workout. On this podcast, we spoke about his new company and a lot about playing for the Pacers and being in the NBA. Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on Apple Podcasts. I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email. Topics Discussed: * Launching a franchisee of Shoot 360, and the concept behind it * Becoming a businessman and the challenges he’s had to overcome * Going back to Oregon to complete his degree * Phil Knight’s involvement with the Ducks, and interning at Nike * His Pacers days, one regret, and how his slam dunk title gave him confidence * The Pacers’ new $50 million practice facility