Lightning part ways with suspended Chris Jones

Chris Jones has been released by the London Lightning after an on-court outburst Thursday night in Sudbury which resulted in an ejection and a suspension.

Jones averaged 15.9 points, 5 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 17 games for the Lightning this season. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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London Lightning guard Chris Jones, the vocal floor general for the NBL Canada leaders, has been dismissed from the team following an on-court incident Thursday night in Sudbury, team officials confirmed today.

“Chris regrettably let his emotions get the best of him and acted in a way that not only hurt our team but embarrassed the league and our organization,” Lightning head coach Doug Plumb said. “This is not tolerated, and he will not be with us the remainder of the season.”

In the second half of London’s 118-110 loss to The Five, Jones got in an altercation over a call when he both threw a water bottle at and spit at a referee. The incident was captured by the NBLC-TV broadcast of the game.

The NLB Canada has officially suspended Jones through the end of the regular season, according to league sources.

The loss won’t go unnoticed by the Lightning, who now sit at 15-3 on the season. In starting 17 games, Jones was averaging 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Against Sudbury, the Memphis native scored 8 points before being ejected in the third quarter.

Beyond the stat sheet, Jones has been re-establishing himself this season. Following the death of his mother last summer, the 6-foot-2-inch point guard had rediscovered an appreciation for the game and his role as a court leader.

“Leadership is not given; it is earned,” Jones said in an interview last week. “For me to be able to lead, my teammates have got to trust me because of where I have played, how I play, who I am, and how I am when I am around them. … I had older guys to look up to when I was coming up. I had no bad guys. At this point in my life, I am trying to provide the same for the young guys now.”

A gifted playmaker, Jones, 30, has a history of volatility both on and off the court, and he was among the handful of Lightning players netting a record number of technical fouls for the squad earlier this season. Jones was hit with two technical fouls and an automatic ejection Thursday night. London had not been assessed a technical foul since March 27 against the Windsor Express, when the team was charged with three technical fouls, including one against Jones.

Jones, who was also named to the NBL Canada All-Star team last week, will not participate in the NBLC-TBL All-Star Weekend activities, including the game and the three-point shooting competition.

The Lightning plan to announce a player signing to replace Jones on the roster later Saturday. That player will be eligible for the playoffs.

The Lightning return to the court against the Express on April 22.