Lajae Jones is getting his shot in the NBA.
The Golden State Warriors drafted the former Florida State Seminole guard with the 54th overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft. He is the first draft pick of the Luke Loucks era. FSU has now had players drafted in back-to-back years for the first time since 2019-2021.
Jones helped establish the culture in Loucks’ first season and ended the season playing the best basketball of his career, making the All-ACC Tournament Second Team. He played in all 33 games and made 31 starts, averaging 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game.
He scored in double figures in 23 of FSU’s games and had 20 or more in six games. He is from Neptune Beach, Florida, and his father, Jackie, was on the Dallas Mavericks roster ahead of the 1991 NBA season.
Jones started his career at Tarleton State in 2023 before going to Barton Community College in 2024 and St. Bonaventure in 2025. He is the third Seminole that Golden State has drafted, with the Warriors taking Otis Johnson in the 1975 draft and Ron King in 1973.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Golden State Warriors take Lajae Jones in 2026 NBA Draft
Reporting by JD McCarthy, FSU Wire / FSU Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By JD McCarthy, FSU Wire | USA TODAY Network
