The Denver Nuggets have had a tough season, but have still managed to remain near the top of the Western Conference standings. As starters have continued to battle problems with injuries, the Nuggets' depth has continued to step up time and time again, with players earning themselves some legit roles.

One of those contributors was one of their two-way players, Spencer Jones, who has had a handful of starts this season. A player who has provided efficient three-point shooting and strong defense, he was rewarded for his efforts with a standard contract for the remainder of the season over the All-Star break.

A five-year player at Stanford, Jones' numbers never jumped off the page, but he had the skillset to be a valuable piece on an NBA team in the right situation. After not seeing much action last year, injuries vaulted him into a bigger role this season, and one that should stick into the playoffs.

Now with Jones on a standard deal, head coach David Adelman was asked about the move and what Jones means to the team.

"He's been a guy that we've relied on to guard other team's best player. He's an improved shooter at this level. We knew he shot it well in the G League last year...He's made shots in the fourth quarter of enormous games. Spence has earned everything he's gotten, getting that deal done was important," Adelman said.

Jones has earned 34 starts this season, where he's averaged 7.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals. However, his efficiency has been strong, shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range. Same as it was at Stanford, his numbers don't jump off the page, but his value goes beyond the box score.

"We need him for this stretch run. We didn't have him last week with the concussion...Just happy for him, he deserves what he's gotten, what he's going to get...Proud of him, and it's good to have him back," he added.

Jones came off the bench on Thursday night in Denver's loss to the Nuggets, as Julian Strawther is occupying that fifth starter spot with Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon sidelined. With both of those players still sidelined for a few more games, Denver could look to insert Jones back into the lineup for more defense.

However, it's important to note that Jones has just been converted to a standard for the remainder of the season, meaning he's set to enter restricted free agency in the 2026 offseason. Denver has a handful of free agency decisions to make, but bringing back Jones on a multi-year deal should be near the top of the list.