Damian Jones (basketball)
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Damian Jones
| image = Damian Jones Cavs '23 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Jones with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023
| position = Center
| height_m = 2.10
| weight_kg = 111
| league = CBA
| team = Zhejiang Golden Bulls
| number = 30
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|6|30}}
| birth_place = Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
| high_school = Scotlandville Magnet
(Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
| college = Vanderbilt (2013–2016)
| draft_year = 2016
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 30
| draft_team = Golden State Warriors
| career_start = 2016
| years1 = {{nbay|2016|start}}–{{nbay|2018|end}}
| team1 = Golden State Warriors
| years2 = 2016–2018
| team2 = →Santa Cruz Warriors
| years3 = {{nbay|2019|full=y}}
| team3 = Atlanta Hawks
| years4 = {{nbay|2020|full=y}}
| team4 = Phoenix Suns
| years5 = {{nbay|2020|end}}
| team5 = Los Angeles Lakers
| years6 = {{nbay|2020|end}}–{{nbay|2021|end}}
| team6 = Sacramento Kings
| years7 = {{nbay|2022|full=y}}
| team7 = Los Angeles Lakers
| years8 = {{nbay|2022|end}}
| team8 = Utah Jazz
| years9 = {{nbay|2023|full=y}}
| team9 = Cleveland Cavaliers
| years10 = 2024–present
| team10 = Zhejiang Golden Bulls
| highlights = * 2× NBA champion ({{nbafy|2017}}, {{nbafy|2018}})
- 2× First-team All-SEC (2015, 2016)
}}
Damian William Jones (born June 30, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the Vanderbilt Commodores and was selected in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors with the 30th overall pick. Jones is a two-time NBA champion, having won both with Golden State in 2017 and 2018.
High school career
Jones attended Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=Lopez|url=http://www.nola.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2013/04/scotlandvilles_damian_jones_an.html|title=Scotlandville's Damian Jones and Brian Bridgewater look forward to facing off in SEC|work=NOLA.com|date=April 29, 2013|access-date=July 13, 2016}} where he averaged 15.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, and 2.0 assists as a senior.{{cite web|url=http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/damian_jones_849751.html|title=Vanderbilt bio|work=VUCommodores.com|access-date=December 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025213102/http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/damian_jones_849751.html|archive-date=October 25, 2016|url-status=dead}} Jones was rated by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit and committed to Vanderbilt University.{{cite web|url=https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/maple/139989|title=Damian Jones – Rivals.com|work=Rivals.com|access-date=July 13, 2016}}{{cite web|first=Raphielle|last=Johnson|url=http://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2012/09/02/four-star-forward-damian-jones-commits-to-vanderbilt/|title=Four-star forward Damian Jones commits to Vanderbilt|work=NBCSports.com|date=September 2, 2012|access-date=July 13, 2016}}
College career
In three seasons at Vanderbilt, Jones averaged 13.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.69 blocks and 27.2 minutes in 99 games, garnering first-team All-SEC honors as both a sophomore and junior. He hit 56.6 percent from the field during his collegiate career, the third-best mark in Vanderbilt history, while finishing second on the school's all-time blocks list (167). As a junior in 2015–16, Jones averaged 13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.64 blocks in 33 games, helping Vanderbilt to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011–12.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/warriors-sign-jones-20160713|title=Warriors Sign Rookie Center Damian Jones to Contract|work=NBA.com|date=July 13, 2016|access-date=July 13, 2016}}
On April 14, 2016, Jones declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final year of college eligibility.{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Sparks|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2016/04/14/vanderbilts-damian-jones-declares-nba-draft/83029128/|title=Vanderbilt's Damian Jones declares for NBA Draft|work=Tennessean.com|date=April 14, 2016|access-date=April 14, 2016}}
Professional career
=Golden State Warriors (2016–2019)=
While working out with the Orlando Magic in the lead up to the draft, Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle in his right arm, which required surgery.{{cite web|first=James|last=Herbert|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-draft-2016-vanderbilts-damian-jones-has-surgery-for-pectoral-injury/|title=NBA Draft 2016: Vanderbilt's Damian Jones has surgery for pectoral injury|work=CBSSports.com|date=June 18, 2016|access-date=June 18, 2016}} Despite this, Jones was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 30th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/warriors-select-vanderbilt-center-damian-jones-30th-overall-pick-2016-nba-draft/|title=Warriors Select Vanderbilt Center Damian Jones With 30th Overall Pick in 2016 NBA Draft|work=NBA.com|date=June 23, 2016|access-date=June 23, 2016}} He signed with the Warriors on July 13, and made his NBA debut on December 10 against the Memphis Grizzlies.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400899793|title=Grizzlies dominate Warriors for sixth straight victory|work=ESPN.com|date=December 10, 2016|access-date=December 11, 2016}} On February 1, 2017, in his first game for the Warriors at Oracle Arena, Jones scored his first career NBA points in a 126–111 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400899435|title=Stephen Curry's 3-point clinic leads Warriors past Hornets|work=ESPN.com|date=February 1, 2017|access-date=February 2, 2017}} He appeared in 10 regular-season games and four playoff games during the 2016–17 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jonesda03/gamelog/2017/|title=Damian Jones 2016-17 Game Log|work=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=May 25, 2017}} The Warriors won the 2017 NBA Finals after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. The Warriors finished the playoffs with a 16–1 record, the best postseason winning percentage in NBA history.{{cite web |date=June 14, 2017 |title=Warriors (16–1) Record Best Postseason Winning Percentage in NBA History |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2715556-warriors-16-1-record-best-postseason-winning-percentage-in-nba-history |access-date=May 10, 2018 |website=Bleacher Report}}
The 2017–18 season saw Jones appear in 15 regular-season games and four playoff games,{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jonesda03/gamelog/2018/|title=Damian Jones 2017-18 Game Log|work=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=December 2, 2018}} as the Warriors returned to the NBA Finals, where they won their second straight championship over the Cavaliers in a four-game sweep. During his first two seasons, Jones received multiple assignments to the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State's G League affiliate.{{cite web|url=http://gleague.nba.com/all-time-nba-assignments/|title=All-Time NBA Assignments|work=NBA.com|access-date=May 29, 2018}}
Jones became the starting center for the Warriors in 2018–19, starting in 22 of the Warriors' first 24 games.{{cite news|last=Slater|first=Anthony|title=After Damian Jones' pectoral tear, will the Warriors add another center?|date=December 2, 2018|work=The Athletic|url=https://theathletic.com/688386/2018/12/02/after-damian-jones-pectoral-tear-will-the-warriors-add-another-center/|access-date=December 4, 2018|url-access=subscription |quote=After two years developing in the G League, away from the spotlight, the Warriors put him on center stage, starting him in 22 of the first 24 games.}} On December 1, 2018, he suffered a torn left pectoral muscle in a 111–102 loss to the Detroit Pistons.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401071012|title=Griffin, Drummond lead Pistons over Curry, Warriors 111-102|work=ESPN.com|date=December 1, 2018|access-date=December 2, 2018|quote=Golden State center Damian Jones injured his left shoulder in the third quarter and did not return.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/article/2018/12/02/warriors-damian-jones-torn-pectoral|title=Warriors' center Damian Jones suffers torn left pectoral muscle|work=NBA.com|date=December 2, 2018|access-date=December 2, 2018}} He initially was ruled out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair the muscle.{{cite news|last=Murdock|first=Logan|title=Damian Jones expected to be sidelined for five to six months|date=December 7, 2018|newspaper=Daily Democrat|url=https://www.dailydemocrat.com/2018/12/07/latest-on-damian-jones-surgery-is-successful-center-to-start-rehab-in-six-weeks/|access-date=December 8, 2018}}{{cite web |last=Wojnarowski |first=Adrian |authorlink=Adrian Wojnarowski |date=December 2, 2018 |title=Warriors' Damian Jones to have surgery on pec, likely out for season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25433907 |access-date=March 21, 2023 |work=ESPN.com}} Jones returned to action during the Western Conference Finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jonesda03/gamelog/2019/|title=Damian Jones 2018-19 Game Log|work=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=June 13, 2019}} The Warriors went on to reach the 2019 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Toronto Raptors in six games.{{Cite web |title=The Big Moments: Toronto Raptors 2019 championship run |url=https://www.nba.com/news/big-moments-raptors-run |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}
=Atlanta Hawks (2019–2020)=
On July 8, 2019, Jones and with a 2026 second-round pick were traded to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Omari Spellman.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/hawks-acquire-damian-jones-from-golden-state-warriors |title=Atlanta Hawks Acquire Damian Jones From Golden State Warriors|work=NBA.com|date=July 8, 2019}}
=Phoenix Suns (2020–2021)=
On November 30, 2020, Jones signed a two-year deal with the Phoenix Suns.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/suns/suns-sign-moore-galloway-jones-0 |title=SUNS SIGN MOORE, GALLOWAY, & JONES|work=NBA.com|date=November 30, 2020}} In 14 games, he averaged 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.
On February 23, 2021, Jones was waived by the Suns.{{cite web |title=Suns waive backup center Damian Jones |url=https://www.nba.com/news/suns-waive-backup-center-damian-jones |website=NBA.com |access-date=February 24, 2021 |date=February 23, 2021}}
=Los Angeles Lakers (2021)=
On February 26, 2021, Jones signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/lakers-sign-damian-jones-10-day-contract-210226|title=Lakers Sign Damian Jones To 10-Day Contract|work=NBA.com|date=February 26, 2021}} On March 11, the Lakers signed him to another 10-day contract.{{cite web|title=Lakers Re-Sign Damian Jones to Second 10-Day Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/lakers-re-sign-damian-jones-to-second-10-day-contract-210311|access-date=March 11, 2021|date=March 11, 2021|website=NBA.com}}
=Sacramento Kings (2021–2022)=
On April 7, 2021, Jones signed a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-sign-damian-jones-10-day-contract|title=Kings Sign Damian Jones to 10-Day Contract|work=NBA.com|date=April 7, 2021|access-date=April 7, 2021}} He signed a second one 10 days later.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-sign-damian-jones-second-10-day-contract|title=Kings Sign Damian Jones to Second 10-Day Contract|work=NBA.com|date=April 17, 2021|access-date=April 18, 2021}} On April 28, Jones signed a multi-year deal with the Kings after appearing in six games, including two starts.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-sign-damian-jones-multi-year-contract|title=Kings Sign Damian Jones To Multi-Year Contract|work=NBA.com|date=April 28, 2021|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
=Return to the Lakers (2022–2023)=
On July 1, 2022, Jones signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.{{Cite web |title=Lakers Sign Troy Brown Jr., Damian Jones and Juan Toscano-Anderson |url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/news/lakers-sign-troy-brown-jr-damian-jones-and-juan-toscano-anderson-20220701 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=NBA}}
=Utah Jazz (2023)=
On February 9, 2023, Jones was traded to the Utah Jazz in a three-team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/lakers-timberwolves-jazz-russell-westbrook-trade|title=Lakers trading Russell Westbrook to Jazz in 3-team, 8-player deal|work=NBA.com|date=February 9, 2023}} He made his Jazz debut on February 15, recording seven points, two rebounds and two blocks in a 117–111 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.{{Cite web |title=JACKSON, BANE LEAD GRIZZLIES OVER JAZZ, 117-111 |url=https://www.nba.com/game/0022200879 |access-date=February 16, 2023 |website=NBA.com}}
On June 20, 2023, Jones exercised his $2.59 million player option to return to the Jazz for the 2023–24 season.{{Cite web |title=Jazz's Damian Jones: Exercises player option for 2023-24 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/jazzs-damian-jones-exercises-player-option-for-2023-24/amp/}}
=Cleveland Cavaliers (2023–2024)=
=Zhejiang Golden Bulls (2024–present)=
On August 2, 2024, Jones signed with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association.{{cite web|title=官宣{{!}}我俱乐部签约美籍球员达米安·琼斯|url=https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309405062893891879201|website=Weibo.com|publisher=Zhejiang Golden Bulls|date=August 1, 2024|access-date=August 3, 2024|language=Chinese}}{{cite web|title=浙江男篮签下前NBA球员达米安·琼斯 着力补强内线|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/ty/2024/08-02/10262585.shtml|website=ChinaNews.com.cn|date=August 2, 2024|access-date=August 9, 2024|language=Chinese}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y}}
=NBA=
==Regular season==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|2016}}†
| style="text-align:left;"|Golden State
| 10 || 0 || 8.5 || .500 || {{sort|-|—}} || .300 || 2.3 || .0 || .1 || .4 || 1.9
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|2017}}†
| style="text-align:left;"|Golden State
| 15 || 0 || 5.9 || .500 || {{sort|-|—}} || .600 || .9 || .1 || .1 || .2 || 1.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2018}}
| style="text-align:left;"|Golden State
| 24 || 22 || 17.1 || .716 || {{sort|-|—}} || .649 || 3.1 || 1.2 || .5 || 1.0 || 5.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2019}}
| style="text-align:left;"|Atlanta
| 55 || 27 || 16.1 || .680 || .222 || .738 || 3.7 || .6 || .5 || .7 || 5.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=3|{{nbay|2020}}
| style="text-align:left;"|Phoenix
| 14 || 0 || 6.7 || .500 || .000 || .545 || 1.3 || .3 || .1 || .4 || 1.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers
| 8 || 6 || 14.0 || .941 || {{sort|-|—}} || .917 || 3.3 || .1 || .1 || .9 || 5.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Sacramento
| 17 || 4 || 20.0 || .657 || .250 || .714 || 4.5 || 1.4 || .5 || 1.0 || 6.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2021}}
| style="text-align:left;"|Sacramento
| 56 || 15 || 18.2 || .658 || .345 || .718 || 4.4 || 1.2 || .5 || .8 || 8.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2|{{nbay|2022}}
| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers
| 22 || 1 || 8.0 || .541 || .000 || .750 || 2.5 || .2 || .1 || .5 || 2.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Utah
| 19 || 0 || 15.8 || .714 || .714 || .778 || 3.5 || .6 || .3 || .5 || 4.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2023}}
| style="text-align:left;"|Cleveland
| 39 || 0 || 6.9 || .597 || .214 || .857 || 1.6 || .4 || .2 || .3 || 2.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 279 || 75 || 13.5 || .656 || .351 || .715 || 3.1 || .7 || .3 || .7 || 4.9
{{s-end}}
==Playoffs==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|2017†
| style="text-align:left;"|Golden State
| 4 || 0 || 5.2 || .429 || {{sort|-|—}} || .500 || 1.5 || .0 || .5 || .3 || 1.8
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|2018†
| style="text-align:left;"|Golden State
| 4 || 0 || 2.7 || .500 || {{sort|-|—}} || .667 || .8 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|2019
| style="text-align:left;"|Golden State
| 4 || 1 || 2.0 || 1.000 || {{sort|-|—}} || .500 || .5 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|2024
| style="text-align:left;"|Cleveland
| 2 || 0 || 4.6 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 1.0 || 1.0 || .0 || .5 || .0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 14 || 1 || 3.5 || .500 || {{sort|-|—}} || .571 || .9 || .1 || .1 || .1 || 1.0
{{s-end}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|2013–14
| style="text-align:left;"|Vanderbilt
| 31 || 28 || 25.7 || .543 || {{sort|-|—}} || .545 || 5.7 || .2 || .3 || 1.4 || 11.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|2014–15
| style="text-align:left;"|Vanderbilt
| 35 || 34 || 29.1 || .562 || .200 || .599 || 6.5 || .7 || .6 || 2.0 || 14.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;|2015–16
| style="text-align:left;|Vanderbilt
| 33 || 33 || 26.2 || .590 || .000 || .536 || 6.9 || 1.2 || .2 || 1.6 || 13.9
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 99 || 95 || 27.1 || .566 || .125 || .565 || 6.4 || .7 || .4 || 1.7 || 13.3
{{s-end}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Sports}}
{{basketballstats |nba=1627745 |bbr=j/jonesda03}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161025213102/http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/damian_jones_849751.html Vanderbilt Commodores bio]
{{Navboxes|list1=
{{2016 NBA draft}}
{{Golden State Warriors 2016–17 NBA champions}}
{{Golden State Warriors 2017–18 NBA champions}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Damian}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American expatriate basketball people in China
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Atlanta Hawks players
Category:Basketball players from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Category:Cleveland Cavaliers players
Category:Golden State Warriors draft picks
Category:Golden State Warriors players
Category:Los Angeles Lakers players
Category:NBA championship–winning players
Category:Sacramento Kings players
Category:Santa Cruz Warriors players