Garbage time turns out to be treasure for Jones WARRIORS BEAT
ORLANDO — Midway through the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon, Damian
Jones took his seat in front of the Amway Center scorer’s table. A 25-point Warriors lead had left head coach
Steve Kerr comfortable enough to play his 7-foot project for just the second time this season.
Jones’ final stat line — no points, one rebound, one steal and one turnover in seven minutes — was unimportant. After yo-yoing between the NBA club and its Development League affiliate in Santa Cruz much of the season, the rookie center was surely pleased to get some playing time at his sport’s highest level. “That’s big,” Stephen Curry said. “For us to open the game like that and give him an opportunity to get his feet wet, build confidence and a rhythm, it was awesome.”
It has become common for Jones to play a game or two with Santa Cruz, then rejoin Golden State for valuable practice time. Before Jones’ cameo Sunday, a crowded frontcourt and closer-thanexpected games had limited him to nine minutes of mopup duty in a Dec. 10 loss to Memphis.
Through seven D-League stints this season that have spanned 17 games, Jones is averaging 7.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 23.9 minutes. A thinning frontcourt could spell an extended stay with Golden State. With
David West sidelined at least two weeks with a thumb injury, Kerr is shuffling between five reserve centers:
Jones, JaVale McGee, Kevon Looney, James Michael McAdoo and Anderson Varejao.
Though Jones is still unlikely to play consistent NBA minutes, his development is worth tracking. He is Golden State’s only center signed beyond this season.
“Damian works really hard,” Klay Thompson said. “He’s only a rookie, so he’s got a lot of time. He’s going to be a really good player.” Resting players: On the front end of a back-to-back set, Kerr rested Shaun Livingston against the Magic. Kerr said that there is a chance he gives Andre Iguodala the night off Monday in Miami.