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The London Lightning have acquired the Basketball Super League’s leading scorer.
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James Towns, who has averaged 26.9 points a game this season for the Pontiac Pharaohs, arrives on the heels of Bolts guard Chris Jones’s indefinite suspension for a dustup following a 112-107 win over the Newfoundland Rogues Jan. 3 in St. John’s.
“It’ll be the end for (Jones) this year,” London GM Mark Frijia said. “It’s hard to say (if he will ever be back). It’ll probably be tough to bring him back in the league.”
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Jones, the reigning BSL Finals MVP, has a long history of misconduct. He was suspended six games in the 2021-22 National Basketball League of Canada season for an on-court outburst but came back to help win the league title. Early in the 2022-23 campaign, he was suspended the rest of the year for “putting his hands” on Sudbury Five coach Logan Stutz in the dressing room area at Canada Life Place.
Last season, the 33-year-old from Memphis signed with Windsor before being dealt to London and leading the Lightning to their third straight crown.
“I’ve known Chris for seven years and it’s definitely disappointing,” Frijia said. “He has always been a phenomenal player. He had a rough upbringing and had trouble wherever he goes. It’s something we try to work with him on but there’s only so much we can do.
“We’re going to respect the league’s decision, wish him the best and move on.”
Towns, a Niagara College grad, scored 42 points against London in a 154-152 Lightning double overtime victory Dec. 19 at Michigan. He followed up with 22 points in London’s 121-107 win Dec. 27 at Canada Life Place.
He is expected to make his Bolts debut Thursday against the K-W Titans, 7 p.m. at CLP. The Lightning have also inked Calvin Godfrey, a big man with playing experience in Europe and Asia.
rpyette@postmedia.com
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