Last Updated on October 9, 2026 by Pedro Salcas
Derrick Jones Jr. is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. Born on February 15, 1997, in Chester, Pennsylvania, his full name is Derrick Labrent Jones Jr. Known for his extraordinary jumping ability, athleticism and defensive versatility, Jones earned the nickname “Airplane Mode” and became the NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion in 2020.
Beyond his basketball achievements, Derrick Jones Jr. is a family man who has built a life with his longtime partner, Shakara Pritchett. His parents are Derrick Jones Sr. and Otiesse Jones, while his three siblings are Lakeem Johnson, Dej’sha Jones and On’Jesha Jones. Official NBA records identify three of his sons by name: Derrick Jones III, Princeton and Roman. However, a 2023 report by Dallas basketball journalist Brad Townsend indicated that the player has four sons.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s Wife: Shakara Pritchett
Derrick Jones Jr. is married to Shakara Pritchett, also known as Sherry, his longtime romantic partner and the woman who has supported him throughout much of his professional basketball career.
Shakara is originally from Ohio and has generally maintained a private lifestyle despite her husband’s public profile as an NBA player.
According to published biographical profiles, she attended Euclid High School in Ohio, where she participated in track and field.
Jones and Shakara first met in Cleveland in 2016, when he was preparing for the NBA Draft.
During an interview in January 2023, Jones explained that he had been in Cleveland with his agent when he met Shakara during an evening out.
Their relationship developed shortly before Jones began his professional basketball career with the Phoenix Suns.
Over the following years, Shakara supported him as he played for several NBA teams, including the Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers and Chicago Bulls.
The couple occasionally shared photographs and personal moments on social media, providing fans with glimpses of their relationship and family life.
How Derrick Jones Jr. Proposed to Shakara Pritchett
One of the most memorable moments in Derrick Jones Jr.’s personal life occurred in January 2023, when he proposed to Shakara during the Chicago Bulls’ trip to Paris, France.
The Bulls traveled to Paris to face the Detroit Pistons in an NBA regular-season game on January 19, 2023.
Jones used the opportunity to organize a surprise marriage proposal during a team dinner attended by players, coaches, relatives and friends.
On January 17, he approached Shakara with a microphone and asked her to marry him.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Shakara appeared genuinely surprised by the proposal before enthusiastically accepting.
The Chicago Bulls later shared a video of the engagement on their official social media accounts, congratulating the couple.
Jones explained that he had planned the proposal after learning that the team would travel to Paris.
The occasion was particularly meaningful because the couple had already been together for approximately seven years.
They subsequently married in 2023, according to reporting published by Essence and other entertainment and sports outlets.
Their relationship has remained an important part of Jones’s life as he continues his professional basketball career.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s Children
Derrick Jones Jr. is the father of at least three publicly identified sons: Derrick Jones III, Princeton and Roman. All three are named in his official NBA biography and the Dallas Mavericks’ 2024 postseason media guide.
However, in November 2023, Dallas Morning News basketball reporter Brad Townsend stated that Jones had four sons while sharing a photograph of the player spending time with his family before a Mavericks game.
The name and birth details of the fourth child mentioned in that report have not been reliably established in public sources.
Consequently, official NBA biographies confirm three sons by name, while contemporary reporting indicates that Jones may have four sons in total.
Derrick Jones III
Derrick Jones III is one of Derrick Jones Jr.’s sons and carries the family name shared by his father and grandfather.
He is the first child identified in Jones’s official NBA family biography.
His name also appeared in the Phoenix Suns’ 2017–18 preseason media guide, confirming that Jones had already become a father during the early stages of his professional basketball career.
At that time, Derrick Jones Jr. was establishing himself in the NBA after signing with Phoenix as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
Although Jones occasionally shares family moments publicly, detailed information about Derrick III’s upbringing has largely remained private.
Princeton Jones
Princeton is another of Derrick Jones Jr.’s sons and is identified in the player’s official NBA biography.
Princeton has been mentioned in multiple professional basketball media guides alongside his brothers, Derrick Jones III and Roman.
Jones has generally chosen to protect his children’s privacy rather than regularly discuss their personal activities in interviews.
As a result, detailed information about Princeton’s birth date, education and everyday life has not been consistently published by reliable sources.
Roman Jones
Roman is another of Derrick Jones Jr.’s publicly identified sons.
His name appears in the official NBA player biography and in records published during Jones’s time with the Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks.
Like his brothers, Roman has largely remained outside public media attention.
The family has occasionally appeared in photographs connected to Jones’s basketball career, including moments when his children attended games.
Despite his demanding professional schedule, Jones has made time for family activities while competing in the NBA.
Does Derrick Jones Jr. Have a Fourth Son?
Although official NBA biographies list Derrick Jones III, Princeton and Roman, journalist Brad Townsend reported on November 22, 2023, that Jones had four sons.
Townsend made the statement while covering the Dallas Mavericks and sharing a photograph of Jones enjoying time with his children before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The report suggests that the family may be larger than the three children recorded in official player biographies.
However, the fourth child’s name and date of birth have not been independently verified, so those details should not be assumed.
As of now, three sons are confirmed by name in official NBA records, with a fourth son reported by a Dallas basketball journalist.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s Parents
Derrick Jones Jr. was born to Derrick Jones Sr. and Otiesse Jones in Chester, Pennsylvania.
His parents helped raise him in a family environment where perseverance, hard work and supporting one another were important values.
Jones has acknowledged that his upbringing influenced his determination to succeed in basketball.
His father’s resilience, in particular, became an important example during his childhood and teenage years.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s Father: Derrick Jones Sr.
Derrick Jones Sr. is Derrick Jones Jr.’s father and one of the most influential people in his life.
He raised Derrick and his siblings in Chester, Pennsylvania, where the future NBA player developed an early interest in basketball.
Although Derrick Jones Sr. has generally remained outside the public spotlight, his influence is documented in his son’s official college basketball biography.
According to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Jones identified his father as the biggest influence in his life when he joined the Runnin’ Rebels basketball program.
He explained that his father’s determination to overcome family challenges and his unwillingness to give up were qualities he admired.
That example helped shape Jones’s approach to difficult circumstances, particularly during his basketball development.
One important moment occurred when Derrick was preparing to enter college.
Jones initially planned to attend a preparatory school before beginning his college basketball career because of academic eligibility requirements.
However, he eventually earned the standardized test score necessary to attend UNLV directly.
In a March 2017 interview with WBUR’s Only A Game, Jones recalled the emotional moment when his parents learned that he had achieved the required score.
He explained that his father became emotional after reading the results because Derrick was the first of his parents’ children to attend college.
The achievement represented an important milestone for the entire family.
Derrick Jones Sr. continued supporting his son’s ambitions as he progressed through college basketball and eventually entered the NBA.
His resilience and dedication have remained important influences on Derrick’s personal development.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s Mother: Otiesse Jones
Otiesse Jones is Derrick Jones Jr.’s mother and another important member of his family support system.
She helped raise Derrick and his three siblings in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Although Otiesse has maintained a relatively private personal life, her name appears in official college and NBA biographies.
She supported Derrick throughout his education and early basketball development, including the period when he was attempting to qualify academically for college.
In his 2017 interview with WBUR, Jones remembered how both of his parents reacted emotionally when they learned that he had achieved the necessary academic test score to attend UNLV.
For Otiesse, the occasion represented an important educational achievement for her son.
Her support continued as Derrick left Pennsylvania to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 2015.
Although he eventually left college after one season, his time at UNLV helped prepare him for professional basketball.
Jones’s successful transition into the NBA was particularly meaningful because he entered the league without being selected in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Throughout his career, his family’s encouragement has remained an important part of his personal story.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s Siblings
Derrick Jones Jr. has three siblings: one brother named Lakeem Johnson and two sisters named Dej’sha Jones and On’Jesha Jones.
Their names are confirmed in his official UNLV basketball biography and NBA player records.
According to UNLV’s 2015–16 roster information, Lakeem and Dej’sha are older than Derrick, while On’Jesha is his younger sister.
Although Derrick has achieved international recognition through professional basketball, his siblings have generally maintained private lives.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s Brother: Lakeem Johnson
Lakeem Johnson is Derrick Jones Jr.’s older brother.
Lakeem is identified in the official UNLV basketball biography published during Derrick’s freshman season in 2015.
At that time, Lakeem was listed as 24 years old, making him approximately six years older than Derrick.
The brothers grew up connected to the same family in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Derrick has spoken about the importance of perseverance and the sacrifices made by his family during his upbringing.
Although Lakeem is a member of the family that helped shape those experiences, detailed information about his education, career and personal relationships is limited.
Unlike his younger brother, Lakeem has not pursued a widely documented professional NBA career.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s Sister: Dej’sha Jones
Dej’sha Jones is Derrick Jones Jr.’s older sister and another member of his family.
Her name is included in his official UNLV basketball biography, where she was listed as 21 years old during the 2015–16 season.
This makes Dej’sha approximately three years older than Derrick.
She grew up as part of the Jones family in Pennsylvania, where Derrick began developing his athletic abilities.
Although Dej’sha is publicly identified as his sister, she has generally avoided media attention.
Reliable sports biographies do not provide extensive information about her education, current profession or personal relationships.
Her family connection to the NBA player is well documented, but other aspects of her life remain private.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s Sister: On’Jesha Jones
On’Jesha Jones is Derrick Jones Jr.’s younger sister.
According to his official UNLV player biography, On’Jesha was 14 years old during the 2015–16 basketball season.
She is therefore approximately four years younger than Derrick.
Like her older siblings, On’Jesha grew up connected to the Jones family’s roots in Chester, Pennsylvania.
She was still attending school when Derrick began his college basketball career at UNLV.
Although her brother’s achievements have attracted considerable public attention, On’Jesha has maintained a comparatively private life.
There is limited independently verified information about her current education, occupation or other personal activities.
How Derrick Jones Jr.’s Family Influenced His Basketball Career
Derrick Jones Jr.’s basketball journey reflects the importance of family support, perseverance and determination.
Growing up in Chester, Pennsylvania, he developed an interest in basketball and gradually became recognized for his extraordinary athletic abilities.
His father served as an important example of resilience, while both parents encouraged him to pursue his education and basketball ambitions.
Jones attended Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania, where he became one of the school’s most accomplished basketball players.
During his high school career, he scored 1,645 points, collected 1,029 rebounds and recorded 268 blocked shots.
As a senior during the 2014–15 season, he averaged 19.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
His performances earned him recognition as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Player of the Year, Delaware County Player of the Year and Pennsylvania Class AAA Player of the Year.
He also won a national high school slam dunk competition in April 2015, demonstrating the spectacular leaping ability that later became his trademark in the NBA.
After graduating from high school, Jones joined the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he played for the Runnin’ Rebels during the 2015–16 season.
He averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game during his freshman campaign.
However, his college basketball career ended prematurely after the NCAA ruled him ineligible because of an issue involving his standardized test score.
Despite the setback, Jones decided to enter the 2016 NBA Draft.
He was not selected by any NBA franchise, creating uncertainty about his immediate professional future.
Nevertheless, he continued pursuing his basketball ambitions and eventually signed with the Phoenix Suns.
He made his NBA debut on November 19, 2016, against the Philadelphia 76ers.
After spending time with Phoenix, Jones joined the Miami Heat, where he became widely recognized for his athleticism and spectacular dunks.
In February 2020, he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend in Chicago, defeating Aaron Gordon in a closely contested final.
He subsequently represented the Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks.
During the 2023–24 season, Jones played an important role in helping Dallas reach the NBA Finals, contributing perimeter defense and athleticism.
In July 2024, he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, beginning another chapter in his professional basketball career.
His rise from an undrafted prospect to an established NBA player illustrates the determination he developed through his upbringing and family support.
Derrick Jones Jr.’s Family Life Outside Basketball
Although Derrick Jones Jr. is best known for his performances on the basketball court, he has also emphasized the importance of spending time with his family.
His relationship with Shakara began before he established himself in the NBA, meaning she witnessed many of the challenges associated with the early stages of his career.
From his experience as an undrafted player to his eventual success in Miami, Dallas and Los Angeles, the relationship has remained part of his personal life.
Jones has also experienced fatherhood while competing in a league that requires frequent travel and demanding training schedules.
During his time with the Dallas Mavericks, photographs of him spending time with his children before games illustrated how family activities remained part of his routine.
Outside basketball, Jones enjoys recreational activities such as bowling and visiting Topgolf, according to his official NBA biography.
He has also expressed interest in becoming a basketball coach after his playing career ends.
Frequently Asked Questions About Derrick Jones Jr.’s Family
Who is Derrick Jones Jr.’s wife?
Derrick Jones Jr.’s wife is Shakara Pritchett, also known as Sherry. The couple began dating in 2016, became engaged in Paris in January 2023 and married later that year.
How did Derrick Jones Jr. meet his wife?
Derrick Jones Jr. met Shakara Pritchett in Cleveland in 2016 while preparing for the NBA Draft. He was spending an evening out with his agent when they met.
When did Derrick Jones Jr. get married?
Derrick Jones Jr. married Shakara Pritchett in 2023, following their engagement during the Chicago Bulls’ trip to Paris in January of that year.
How many children does Derrick Jones Jr. have?
The NBA officially identifies three sons named Derrick Jones III, Princeton and Roman. However, Dallas basketball reporter Brad Townsend reported in November 2023 that Jones had four sons. The fourth child’s name has not been publicly verified.
What are Derrick Jones Jr.’s children’s names?
His three publicly identified sons are Derrick Jones III, Princeton and Roman. A fourth son has been reported, but his name is not reliably established in public records.
Who are Derrick Jones Jr.’s parents?
Derrick Jones Jr.’s parents are Derrick Jones Sr. and Otiesse Jones. Both supported his education and basketball development during his childhood in Pennsylvania.
Who is Derrick Jones Jr.’s father?
His father is Derrick Jones Sr., whom he identified as his biggest personal influence in his official UNLV biography because of his resilience and determination during difficult family circumstances.
Who is Derrick Jones Jr.’s mother?
His mother is Otiesse Jones, who helped raise him and his three siblings in Chester, Pennsylvania, and supported him throughout his early basketball career.
How many siblings does Derrick Jones Jr. have?
Derrick Jones Jr. has three siblings: one older brother named Lakeem Johnson, one older sister named Dej’sha Jones and one younger sister named On’Jesha Jones.
Who is Derrick Jones Jr.’s brother?
His older brother is Lakeem Johnson, who is approximately six years older than the NBA player.
Who are Derrick Jones Jr.’s sisters?
His sisters are Dej’sha Jones and On’Jesha Jones. Dej’sha is older than Derrick, while On’Jesha is younger.
How old is Derrick Jones Jr.?
Derrick Jones Jr. was born on February 15, 1997, making him 29 years old as of October 2026.
Where is Derrick Jones Jr. from?
Derrick Jones Jr. was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, United States. He attended Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor before playing college basketball at UNLV.
Why is Derrick Jones Jr. called Airplane Mode?
Jones earned the nickname “Airplane Mode” because of his extraordinary jumping ability and spectacular dunks. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2020.
Pedro Salcas is a dedicated sports journalist and NBA specialist focused on team strategy, player performance, and league news. Tracking action across the Eastern and Western Conferences, he breaks down complex game tape, roster moves, and statistics into clear, engaging analysis. From preseason storylines to deep playoff runs, Pedro brings a sharp analytical perspective and passion for basketball to keep readers informed on everything happening in the NBA.
