The Denver Nuggets have stumbled onto a surprising spark in second-year wing Spencer Jones. He has added length, lockdown defense, and hustle to a squad missing key pieces like Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon. And talk about seizing the moment. In just below 15 minutes a night, Jones drops 4.5 points on average, but he’s draining 46.2% of his threes and, more importantly, giving the Denver side the defensive stretch and energy they desperately need.

And while the Nuggets might be weighing what to do with his non-traditional contract, this could just be the perfect chance to get to know Jones a little better.

Who is Spencer Jones?

Spencer Jones is a 24-year-old, 6’7″, 225-pound wing who’s gone from Bishop Miege High School in Kansas to fighting his way into the Nuggets’ plans. Now he is in his second season on a two-way deal, which means he’s only allowed 50 regular-season games before Denver has to bump him up to a full contract.

This means every minute he plays is basically him convincing the front office, and so far, he’s making one heck of a first impression.

Spencer Jones’ early life & education

Spencer Jones grew up in Roeland Park, Kansas, a place where the local gym basically doubles as a second living room. Basketball inspired him early, and once he stepped into Bishop Miege, it was clear he wasn’t just another kid on the roster. He helped push the Stags to three state titles.

By his senior year, he was stuffing stat sheets like it was a full-time job: 18.8 points, eight rebounds, three steals, 2.5 blocks a night.

Naturally, the national scouts noticed. Jones wrapped up high school ranked 31st by Rivals and 39th by 247Sports, and was rated among the best prospects in the state of Kansas. He even became a finalist for the 2019 DiRenna Award, cementing his spot as one of the Midwest’s top talents.

Spencer Jones’ basketball career journey

From high school, Jones packed up for Stanford. He logged 146 games across five years, becoming the school’s all-time leader in both games played and made threes (315). He averaged 11 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals, shooting nearly 40% from deep and earning All-Pac-12 Second Team honors in 2023. 

And to round out the resume, he walked away with a degree in Management Science and Engineering, because why not?

So when he entered the NBA mix, he wasn’t some mystery project, but the journey hadn’t been easy. After going undrafted in 2024, he scraped his way into the Portland Trail Blazers’ Summer League roster, showed enough, and by the end of July, the Nuggets handed him a two-way deal. That meant splitting time between the big club and Grand Rapids. Not the easiest runway for a rookie trying to carve out a place in a championship-level rotation.

But nights like his latest outing against the Suns make the grind worth it. Jones dropped 16 points on a smooth 6-of-10 shooting clip, buried four triples, pulled down nine boards, and came within a whisker of his first career double-double. More importantly, he looked like he belonged.

Jones hasn’t shied away from embracing who he is and what gets him minutes.

“I’ve been a great three-point shooter throughout my years in Stanford and in college… I know I’m out there for defense,” the Nuggets player said.

Who are Spencer Jones’ parents?

Spencer Jones’ father is Dwayne Eric Jones. Details about his mother remain private and unavailable to the public.

Dwayne forged an impressive path, graduating from Harvard University after attending Northfield Mount Hermon High School. Today, he works as a cardiologist at Meritas Health and holds certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology, the American Board of Pain Management, and the World Institute of Pain.

His discipline, work ethic, and achievements clearly influenced Jones, helping shape the mindset and determination that have fueled his basketball journey. In a college interview, Jones mentioned that his father was a track athlete and that his mother played basketball for a brief period.

Spencer Jones’ nationality, ethnicity & cultural roots

Spencer Jones is American, and with no public information on his cultural or ethnic background, it’s best not to make any assumptions.

What is Spencer Jones’ net worth in 2025?

Spencer Jones is currently on a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. He earned $578,577 during the 2024-25 NBA season. And for the 2025-26 season, his two-way deal brings in $636,435, according to Salary Swish.

While the salary is modest compared to players who made it pro through the NBA draft, it marks the start of a career that could grow significantly if he has a big season with the Nuggets.