Real Madrid FC announced the team’s basketball squad has signed free agent center Damian Jones to a one-year deal earlier this week. Jones spent eight seasons in the NBA from 2016-2024, but has been unable to return to the most prestigious basketball league. Over the past two years, Jones has primarily played in China with the Zhejian Golden Bulls, but also played with the Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico.
The Golden State Warriors drafted Jones with the last pick in the first-round of the 2016 NBA Draft. Jones won two NBA titles during his three seasons with the Dubs, but struggled to ever find a place in the team’s rotation. He joined the starting lineup in his third year, but suffered a torn pectoral injury that kept him sidelined for most of the season. So, began his NBA journeyman career.
Jones would play for seven teams over the next five seasons, playing for three teams in 2020-21. Originally viewed as solely a rim runner, Jones developed some outside touch and was occasionally able to hit a three. Over his NBA career, he averaged 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game (279 games).
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