The white team is negotiating with the 31-year-old American centre, who has two NBA rings and experience in China and Puerto Rico, to strengthen the paint.
Real Madrid basketball has launched a relentless market offensive. Following the names of Mikael Jantunen and Max Shulga, the white club now has Damian Jones, a 2.08-metre centre and two-time NBA champion, in its sights, according to sources from the negotiations. The intention is clear: to give rest to the giant Edy Tavares and bolster the interior game with a proven player.
Two NBA Rings and a Journey Across Half the League
Damian Jones, 31, landed in the NBA in 2016 with the Golden State Warriors. With them, he won two championship rings, although his role was minimal, which led him to seek new opportunities in 2019. With the Atlanta Hawks, he enjoyed more minutes, averaging over 16 per game, and then moved on to the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers with little continuity.
His best moment came with the Sacramento Kings in 2021, where he averaged 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds over 56 games. After a brief return to the Lakers, he joined the Utah Jazz in 2023 and concluded his NBA stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 23/24 season, averaging 2.7 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7 minutes per game. In total, he has played 279 games in the best league in the world, 75 of them as a starter.
Experience in China and Puerto Rico
After his stint in Ohio, Jones headed to China, where he played for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls. There, he shone in the 24/25 season with an average of 17.7 points and 9.1 rebounds, although his numbers dropped to 9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds last season. This summer, he played in the Puerto Rican league with the Vaqueros de Bayamón, averaging 13 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.
His field goal percentage in Puerto Rico has been 81%, a statistic that has caught the attention of the coaching staff. Jones' versatility to play in the post and his defensive capability make him an ideal profile to manage Tavares' minutes, who has carried a heavy load in recent seasons.
The Issue of Non-EU Players, Awaiting Deck's Passport
If the signing goes through, Damian Jones would occupy a non-EU player spot, being American and lacking a European passport. This would reopen the dilemma within the squad, as Pedro Martínez would have three players of this profile: Jones himself, Chuma Okeke, and Gaby Deck. However, the club is confident that Deck will soon obtain Spanish citizenship, which would free up a spot and facilitate the registration of the new centre.
If confirmed, Jones would become the tenth centre to join Real Madrid in the last seven years, showcasing the constant search for replacements in the paint. The white team continues its plan to strengthen the squad for the upcoming season, aiming to compete for all titles.
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