Two Teams in Two Years, Two Championship Rings! How Did 2.4 PPG 'Lucky Charm' Dillon Jones Earn a 76ers Contract?

Brother, have you ever heard of the ultimate form of 'winning without doing much'?

On September 9, 2026, the Philadelphia 76ers officially handed out an Exhibit 10 training camp contract and signed a young player named Dillon Jones.

The contract details are ordinary, and can even be described as 'humble'—it is non-guaranteed, basically just a ticket into training camp. Whether he stays depends entirely on himself.

But the label attached to this player has shocked the entire NBA world: two years in the league, two teams, and two championship rings. His career championship rate is 100%.

Isn't this a living 'championship lucky charm'? Let's look through his resume first and see how this lucky aura was created.

In the 2024 draft, Dillon Jones was selected by the Thunder with the 26th overall pick in the first round.

During his rookie season, he averaged fewer than 10 minutes per game, scored 2.4 points, and shot just 25 percent from three. With numbers like these, on a normal team's bench he would basically be a 'water cooler manager.'

But coincidentally, the Thunder fought through the competition that year and won the 2024-25 championship. Jones played 10 playoff games, averaging 4.6 minutes and 2.3 points—put bluntly, he was mostly a supporting player, and the championship ring still arrived.

Then what happened? In the offseason, the Thunder traded him to the Wizards, and the Wizards immediately waived him.

He became unemployed, with nobody wanting him.

In January 2026, with nowhere else to turn, Jones signed a two-way contract with the Knicks. What does a two-way contract mean?

It means lower pay, and he cannot play in the playoffs.

The Knicks did not expect much from him at the time; they were simply filling a roster spot.

Then came the unbelievable part—the Knicks surged forward and won the 2025-26 championship.

Because of contract restrictions, Jones did not appear in a single playoff game, but the ring still went to him. Two years, two championships, without really playing in a meaningful game.

Doesn't this storyline feel familiar?

Patrick McCaw did something similar back then, winning three championships in three years with three different teams, and fans joked that he was a 'championship indicator.' Now McCaw 2.0 has arrived.

But here is the question: the 76ers general manager is not foolish. Did they really sign a player averaging 2.4 points per game just because he is 'lucky'?

Of course not. We have to look deeper.

Jones' NBA statistics are indeed poor, but if you watched his G League performance, you would be surprised. In the G League, he averaged 15.9 points, 7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists, with an assist rate close to 30 percent, making him a typical playmaking forward.

He is 1.96 meters tall with a 2.11-meter wingspan, and his standing reach ranks among the best at his position. Defensively, he can switch across three positions. His foot speed is not elite, but his anticipation and positioning are solid.

Simply put, he is not without ability; the NBA stage has just been too narrow and opportunities have been too limited.

His player comparison is somewhat like a 'poor man's' Draymond Green—he can organize and defend, but shooting is a major weakness.

The 76ers signed him because they see him as a 'potential lottery ticket.' What if it pays off? Also, signing him creates a 'catfish effect' within the team.

The final two-way contract spot in training camp is highly competitive. Big men like Tacko Fall are also competing for opportunities.

Jones' arrival sends a warning to everyone: if you do not play hard, the opportunity belongs to someone else.

Of course, you cannot completely dismiss the mysterious side of luck.

The 76ers' roster for the new season is incredibly strong—James, Embiid, Maxey, plus a group of proven contributors, with the goal directly set on a championship.

Even if Jones ultimately does not make the team, simply spending a few days in training camp adds to the mysterious 'championship buff' atmosphere.

Fans joked that this move was like buying the team a 'championship insurance policy.' What if it really works? However, reality is much tougher.

It will not be easy for Jones to establish himself with the 76ers.

First, the 76ers have too much roster depth.

He is unlikely to get into the guard and wing rotation.

His biggest weakness is three-point shooting. His NBA career percentage is 25 percent, a number that is almost 'disastrous' in the modern basketball system.

If opponents leave him open, the offense loses a threat, allowing defenders to aggressively double Embiid or James. Therefore, the coaching staff will not easily give him playing time.

Second, he must first make an impression in training camp. Playing hard defense, making smart passes, and not demanding touches are the survival rules for fringe players.

Jones must seize those preseason minutes and produce something eye-catching. If he can earn a two-way contract, that would be the first step.

After that, he still needs to prove himself during regular-season garbage time and convince the coach that 'this guy can be useful.'

But when it comes down to it, sometimes in basketball, luck can be even more mysterious than ability.

Patrick McCaw had similarly modest averages with the Warriors, Raptors, and Cavaliers, yet won three straight championships and became a fan legend after retirement.

If Jones can win another title with the 76ers, he would become the first 'pure lucky three-time champion' legend in NBA history.

Of course, that storyline is extremely dramatic.

But who can guarantee that the ending of the 2026-27 season will not be even more unbelievable than the script?