Golden State Warriors Summer League Evaluation: Damian Jones

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 06: Damian Jones #15 of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a dunk against the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 77-71. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 06: Damian Jones #15 of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a dunk against the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 77-71. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Golden State Warriors would love to see Damian Jones take a step forward next year. Did he show some potential in Summer League?

Damian Jones is entering his third year in the NBA, but he still found his way onto the Golden State Warriors’ Summer League roster this offseason.

The former first round pick has only played in 25 NBA games in two seasons, and he’s running out of time to show that he belongs in the league.

The Warriors will be thin at the center position until DeMarcus Cousins comes back from injury, which could give Jones an opportunity to earn some serious playing time for the first year in his career.

For Jones, his 2018-19 season begins in Summer League.

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Jones played in 30 minutes per game over two games during the Sacramento portion of the Summer League schedule.

He scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds per game with 2 assists and 1.5 blocks. And he shot 8/17 from the field.

Jones was only healthy for one game in Las Vegas before suffering an MCL strain that shut down his Summer League season. Jones went 3/7 in that game with 9 points, 3 rebounds, and a block.

You’d expect someone entering their third NBA season to dominate some of the younger competition in Summer League, and it’s concerning that Jones was unable to do that this year.

He did show some flashes down the stretch last year and he has time to work on his game before the season starts. But his development has been disappointing thus far.

Next: 3 reasons Jonas Jerebko is a great fit for the Warriors

Jones will probably get playing time next year because the Warriors simply don’t have many other options at center. But he’s got a lot to prove if he wants to stay in Golden State long term.

Here are our evaluations of some of the other top players on the Warriors’ Summer League roster:

Jordan Bell

Jacob Evans

Kendrick Nunn

Josh Magette

JP Tokoto