Exclusive with the ‘overlooked’ Spencer Jones on becoming an NBA starter

It’s hard for Spencer Jones not to smile when he stops to think about what his 10-year-old self would think about his life today. The 24-year-old is now a certified NBA starter, but the concept of life in the league didn’t even cross his mind until late in his college career. There was no red carpet, no draft day telecast, and no guarantee of success with the Grand Rapids Gold. Instead, the Roeland Park, Kansas native arrived with the Denver Nuggets a path paved with commercial flights, G-League bus rides, and a relentless focus on the work others avoided.

Now in his second season with the Nuggets, Jones has appeared in 19 games with eight starts, filling a vital niche as a true title contender. These successes were not built on flash, but on the knowledge he had as a senior at Stanford. The mantra was simple, Jones told ClutchPoints.

“Trust the process,” Jones laughed. “I didn’t know until late in my college career that I even had a chance to make it here. From then on, I got here doing the dirty work and other overlooked things that other guys don’t really focus on. Defense is the main reason I get a lot of minutes, so even though I was allowed to do things offensively in college is where I want to do things where I want to do, guys, not do where I want to do, guys.”

Drawing inspiration from reliever legends, the 6-foot-7 swingman is a blueprint for aspiring pros navigating the league’s less glamorous paths. Jones recognized that early on a roster that included offensive juggernauts Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, The Nuggets didn’t need another primary scorer; they needed a shield.

“I really embraced the 3-and-D role early in my career and I always looked at players who were in that situation,” Jones explained. “Guys like Klay Thompson, Tony Allen with Memphis. Working on a team like this, where we’re so prolific on offense, defense is the next step when it comes to competing for ‘chips. That’s where I can come in and give the most help, get a shot at a ring.”

Earning those NBA minutes started with surviving the relentless chewing of the G-League.

Nuggets discovers a gem

Last season, Jones bounced between the Nuggets and the Grand Rapids Gold nine times, enduring the physical and mental toll of constant travel and uncertainty.

“It takes a lot, especially playing mostly in the G-League last year. It’s hard to bounce up and down like nine times,” Jones joked. “My first opportunity came with the G-League, and then I got transferred here (to the Nuggets). That was the first real shot.”

That one moment was important as a personal achievement, but what followed was more important for career survival.

“Then it was all about not worrying about whether I’m up in the NBA or down in the G, it’s more about taking things slow,” Jones noted. “It’s a long season, 82 games gives people a lot of opportunities. You’ll get opportunities if you stay ready.”

Jones didn’t just stay ready, he stayed committed. Grand Rapids has become more than a task; it became a laboratory. That freedom to fail with Grand Rapids Gold creates pressured players ready for high-stakes moments. Jones understands the difference between developing in the minors and pitching for a franchise with championship expectations.

“Grand Rapids is a great place to build yourself up. If you go there, you get an opportunity to develop, to get better,” Jones emphasized. “Don’t sit around, just sit on the bench. It’s all about being up there, learning and applying what they’re doing in Denver. And you’re going to make mistakes while you’re learning. You’re supposed to make mistakes in the G-League.”

The Nuggets haven’t made many mistakes in the development of their newest starter.

Spencer Jones soldiers on

The opportunity to learn, stumble and improve without the weight of playoff expectations is something Jones will never take for granted.

“With the Nuggets, with any winning team, you don’t have the luxury of making mistakes because you’re trying to win as many playoff games as possible,” Jones added. “Going down to the G-League and accepting the fact that you can go make those mistakes there means you’ll be ready to contribute when you get to an NBA situation.”

Two-way players don’t qualify for postseason rosters, but that’s not something Jones can worry about right now. The front office will make the best decision for the organization’s championship goals. Still, Jones moves with the calm assurance of someone who long ago accepted that his path would be slower, more difficult, more demanding. From late blooming college prospect to defensive specialist to title contender, he built his NBA dream one possession, one shuttle flight, one opportunity at a time.

All signs point to a guaranteed, standard NBA playoff-eligible contract coming soon; just don’t mention it too loudly in the locker room. So when he thinks back to that 10-year-old kid who hasn’t imagined this life yet, Spencer Jones can’t help but smile. The trip wasn’t what he expected, but it was exactly what he needed to gain a better perspective on what really mattered: the process and the relationships built along the way.