Damian Jones Joins Real Madrid for EuroLeague Challenge

Damian Jones is heading to one of European basketball’s biggest stages.

Real Madrid confirmed the signing of the former NBA center on a one-year deal, adding championship pedigree and size to a roster already built for titles. At 31, Jones arrives in Spain with the kind of résumé EuroLeague contenders covet: rings, experience, and a body hardened by years in the league and abroad.

The 30th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Jones broke into the league with Golden State and tasted success immediately, collecting two championships in his first two seasons with the Warriors. He carved out an eight-year NBA career as a reliable big man, most recently appearing for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2023/24 campaign.

When his NBA minutes began to thin, Jones didn’t fade away. He reinvented himself overseas. Across the past two years he has spent most of his time in China with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, embracing a starring role far removed from the rotation battles of the NBA. That move sharpened his offensive responsibilities and kept him in the rhythm of heavy minutes.

The trophies kept coming. Jones recently added another title to his collection in Puerto Rico with Vaqueros de Bayamon, a reminder that his impact still translates directly to winning environments.

Now comes a different kind of challenge. Real Madrid, a club that measures seasons in trophies, not storylines, is betting that a battle-tested center with NBA and international success can anchor the paint in the grind of the EuroLeague.

Jones has won at every stop that mattered. Madrid expects that habit to continue.