Denver Nuggets reserve Spencer Jones is having the team of his life as his role with the team keeps increasing.
Spencer Jones has received a much larger role with the Denver Nuggets this season than he previously had as a rookie. Jones is averaging 16.3 minutes per game this season, up from just 6.3 minutes per game during his rookie campaign last year. Jones has also seen his scoring increase from 1.3 to 4.5 points per game and he’s even started in nine of his 20 appearances.
Although Jones is just a week and change removed from a career-high 28-point performance against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 1, he only scored two points on one field goal attempt in 22 minutes of action against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.
Still, it was a special moment for Jones, as he got to square off against former Stanford teammate Maxime Reynaud in the NBA for the first time.
“It was very exciting, knowing the work both of us put in,” Jones said. “Having to play two years with each other and everything like that, knowing the skill he has and his ability to show it out there tonight. It was a really fun moment for both of us. We were definitely talking to each other throughout the whole game. We were all good.”
Making An Impact
It’s not college anymore, however. Now, Jones is a significant bench piece on the most productive offense in the NBA, which means that every time he’s on the floor, he’s a cog in the most dynamic ball-movement machine in the entire league. That’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s also a lot of fun.
“It's amazing,” Jones said, “You don't know who's going to have a great night and everything like that. No one really cares that much. Everybody's going to make a play. Everybody's going to have a little highlight and everything like that. It's fun, whether you're on the court sharing it with the guys or on the bench cheering with everybody. It's just a great atmosphere to be around.”
Another perk of playing in Denver? Well, that would be getting a front-row seat to the best player in the entire sport.
“You could talk hours and hours about (Jokic),” Jones said. “It looks effortless. It's amazing how he's able to put up those numbers and almost look like he's not really putting out that much effort with it. It's insane. But he continues to surprise us every year. Somehow it keeps getting better and more and more efficient, which doesn't seem like it's possible.”