Golden State Warriors: Damion Jones shines in win over Oklahoma City Thunder

The Golden State Warriors shined in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder to open their season. Meanwhile, Damion Jones has made some waves of his own.

It is speculated that the 2018-19 Golden State Warriors may have the most stacked team in NBA history. With all-stars all over the roster, an unlikely name in Damion Jones began to catch attention in the Dubs first game.

Seeing as how many fans may not be familiar with Jones and his background, I think it is important to share a little bit of his story before we discuss how he played in last night’s game.

Jones was drafted by the Warriors with the 30th pick of the 2016 NBA draft. Since then, he has been sent back and forth between the Warriors and the Santa Cruz Warriors (Golden State’s G-League affiliate) a total of 34 times.

This type of treatment is enough to break any player. Constantly being bounced between the two leagues can be mentally and physically exhausting. Some players may have given up completely.  In Jones case, it only made him work harder.

After averaging 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds for Santa Cruz last season, he was called up to the big leagues once again. This time, Steve Kerr was ready to offer him a starting position. This opportunity was one that Jones could not pass up.

Before this game, Jones had played in only 25 NBA games. This was the first time he ever checked in as a starter. Fortunately, he did not disappoint. He played a total of 27 minutes, scored 12 points on 6-7 shooting, blocked 3 shots and grabbed 3 rebounds.

Standing at 7-feet tall, Jones was a force in the paint. He contested multiple shots and made it difficult for the Thunder to attack the rim. Furthermore, his efficient scoring on the offensive end made him a surprising spark plug for the Dubs.

In his first job as a starter, Jones definitely turned a few heads. The Warriors have put in a phenomenal system that can greatly benefit any player who is ready to buy in. It appears as if Jones could be the next player to thrive under this system.