Lokomotiv-Kuban center Kevin Jones has been named the VTB United League April MVP. The monthly MVP award is determined by the League and TASS information agency.
Jones beat out CSKA forward Nikita Kurbanov and Enisey center Frank Elegar for the April MVP.
Loko went 6-0 in April (defeating Avtodor, UNICS, VEF, Kalev, Parma and Tsmoki-Minsk). Jones averaged 13.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals and an 18.8 efficiency rating during that stretch.
Jones was injured in Game 1 of the quarterfinal series vs. UNICS (62-71). He’s been diagnosed with a tailbone fracture and will miss the remainder of the series.
According to former Russian national team center Vitaly Nosov, this could be a tough loss to overcome for Lokomotiv. “He’s great. He carries the team. Jones is as valuable to Lokomotiv as Karasev is to Zenit, Teodosic to CSKA or Shved to Khimki. His injury was the reason Loko lost to UNICS and now Sasa Obradovic won’t have an easy time compensating for his absence,” – noted the expert.
Former winners: Keith Langford of UNICS (October), Alexey Shved of Khimki (November and February), Andrey Zubkov of Lokomotiv-Kuban (December), Sergey Karasev of Zenit (January), Stefan Markovic of Zenit (March).
