5 highlights from Warriors’ back-to-back

Damian Jones gets first NBA bucket

The Golden State Warriors have prided themselves in “Strength in Numbers.” While it’s a slogan that helps sell t-shirts, it’s also a philosophy that head coach Steve Kerr buys into.

Basically, he wants to use every member of the team. Sure, he relies on some of the superstar talent he’s fortunate enough to have, but he wants to get everyone involved. Each player will get their chance.

The Warriors are a little banged up right now. Zaza Pachulia and David West are both out with injuries so Golden State is a little thin at the center spot right now. But they’ve developed a next man up mentality so someone fills in.

The team had the 30th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. With the last pick of the first round, Golden State selected center Damian Jones out of Vanderbilt. He tore a pectoral muscle in his right arm and the Warriors have slowly brought him along.

Jones has played a lot with the team’s D-Leauge affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors. He’s only played three games with the Golden State Warriors and he finally scored his first bucket with them against the Hornets.

James Michael McAdoo, who was playing the three in the Warriors’ garbage time lineup, drove the ball down the lane. He beat his man and Jones’ defender came over. McAdoo dropped the ball off to Jones, who gathered himself, let the defender fly by, and finished with the slam.

It was nice to see the rookie get his first points with Golden State. The team rewarded him with the game ball afterwards. The team is hoping to see many more buckets from him moving forward.

Damian Jones is in Golden State’s long-term plans. They don’t want to rush him, but they’ll bring him on slowly until he can become a real contributor for them.