CANBERRA (Australia) - The basketball conversations at the Jones' dinner table must always be a fun one.
"Remember when dad played in the World Cup and scored 33 against China?" someone might say about Phill, while passing the salt at a Christmas dinner at one of the grandparents house.
"Oh yeah! And how about when Maia scored 15 in her first game against Korea?"
"Hayden, I still can't believe you scored 31 on Australia in the Final of U16 Asia last year. So close."
Obviously, there's a lot more to talk over dinner with the family than basketball. But when you have a family of ballers as Phill and Kat have with their three children Maia, Hayden, and Ava, basketball is most likely going to come up more often than not.
That part of the conversation should be even more lively this year when the Jones plan to meet up again for Christmas.
Ava Jones listed out some of the big accomplishments of the Jones' family, some of which will probably come up.
"Mum was the head coach for the U20s FIBA 3x3 earlier this year," said the youngest Jones, Ava, of her mother, Kat.
"My sister was on that team," she added about 19-year-old Maia, whom Ava also mentions that the family will be visiting in the USA for the holidays. "She's playing for Saint Mary's. She just scored her season-high 28 points today [November 15]."
"[Hayden] just committed to Wisconsin, so that's cool," said Ava about 17-year-old Hayden.
Of course, what might be the best update in the Jones' household this year is about 15-year-old Ava herself. She has been in Canberra this past week at the FIBA U15 Women's Oceania Cup 2024, joining her family as yet another player to represent the New Zealand national team.
"I'm enjoying it," Ava said of being a part of this event. "It’s probably one of the most fun tournaments that I’ve been to." "It's been really good, getting to know all the girls on the team. It’s been really fun seeing how well they play and it’s been really cool just hanging out with different people from different countries when we’re not playing."
Being who she is - basically New Zealand basketball royalty - there's a bit more additional spotlight shined on her. With that comes more attention and potentially, a bit more pressure as well.
"There’s a little pressure, but I think it’s mostly to have fun. Go and enjoy basketball, because I might not… I could just not play next year," she said, before quickly adding. "- but that’s not going to happen."
She's done well to hide the little pressure that she's felt, if any. So far, Ava's been averaging 11.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Her best game has actually been the biggest matchup for New Zealand, a Group Phase clash against Australia where she and her team lost by only 3 points. Jones recorded a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.
New Zealand will be locked up in a Final clash with Australia once again, giving Ava another opportunity to shine. Again, no pressure on her end though.
"We have nothing to lose," she said. "They’ve got all the pressure. This is just icing on the cake for us. If we lost by 3, we can definitely win in the Final."
She also pointed out that the Broughton twins, could be a couple of her teammates to watch in the final showdown, as well as Imani Rasmussen.
"The twins, they’re very shifty guards who are really good at defense and they are really great on offense as well."
"There's also Imani. She's one of our tallest and she's just long and great on defense and on the offensive end."
But for Ava herself, she's done well in her debut with New Zealand. And it should really come as no surprise as she should easily be considered a basketball lifer.
"It’s always been basketball for me," she said. "When I was younger, I just got a ball put in my hands and just dribbled all the time, shooting on a mini hoop."
It's pretty much the same story told by Hayden when he made his debut in the U15 Oceania Cup in 2022. And once Ava got the ball rolling - or dribbling, to be more precise - it was so much easier to keep it going with all of the ballers in the family, especially her siblings.
"We obviously have some arguments, but we're close and I really love them."
"My brother and sister [are players I look up to for inspiration]," said Ava. "Mostly my sister because she’s always pushing me and makes me feel like a great basketball player.
"I’ve always wanted to be better than her so that pushes me," she added with a laugh.
The two are four years apart and as Ava mentioned have only "played together one year and then that was it".
But now that both of them are officially part of the Tall Ferns program, the possibility of them both playing for the same national team in the future is looking more and more likely.
"I really hope so," said Ava.
When that happens, it will certainly be a dinner table conversation to remember for the Jones family.
FIBA