Spencer Jones Still Sidelined by Hamstring as Nuggets Open 2026-27
Spencer Jones has not played a game for Denver through the first five contests of the 2026-27 season as he works back from a hamstring issue. He practiced Sunday and is targeting an October 22 return, with last season's shooting numbers the main reason the Nuggets want him back on the floor.
By the Nuggets Nightly Desk · updated 3 d ago01The story of the nightInjury StatusJones is day-to-day with a hamstring and leg injury.
Jones is day-to-day with a hamstring and leg injury. Adam Mares of TheDNVR.com reported that Jones took part in Sunday's practice, and the Nuggets have him targeting an October 22 return. The issue first showed up on October 3, when he was also listed day-to-day with the same hamstring and leg injury. Denver has played five games this season, against the Lakers, Clippers, Bulls and Utah twice, and Jones has not logged a minute in any of them. The practice participation is the clearest sign yet that he is getting close, but Denver has not activated him for a game since the injury first popped up.
02Last Season's RoleJones played 64 games for Denver last season, averaging 22.1 minutes, 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Jones played 64 games for Denver last season, averaging 22.1 minutes, 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He shot 50.4 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from three, with a 61.9 true shooting mark that reflects an efficient, low-usage role off the bench. His usage rate sat at 9.7 percent, and he chipped in 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks a night. The plus-minus finished flat at 0.0 for the season. Those numbers point to a role player valued for floor spacing and clean shot-making rather than a primary scoring option.
03BackgroundJones is a 25-year-old forward out of Stanford, listed at 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds.
Jones is a 25-year-old forward out of Stanford, listed at 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds. He wears number 21 for Denver and is entering his third season after two years in the league. His college background and size give him a wing profile that fits a floor-spacing, three-and-D role, which lines up with the 39.6 percent three-point shooting he posted last season. He is not a high-usage player, but his efficiency numbers from a season ago made him a steady rotation piece when healthy.
04Late-Season SnapshotThe clearest look at what Jones can do in a bigger role came late last season against Minnesota.
The clearest look at what Jones can do in a bigger role came late last season against Minnesota. On April 27, he scored 20 points with 3 rebounds and an assist in 36.9 minutes in a win. Three days earlier, on April 23, he had 6 points and a rebound in 28.4 minutes in a loss. He also had quieter nights in that stretch, including a scoreless game with 4 rebounds in 25.5 minutes on April 25 and a scoreless, 10-minute outing on April 20. The swing between those games shows a player capable of scoring in bursts but still finding a consistent role.
05Rumor MillJones showed up in a October 18 injury-update roundup alongside other players and teams, a sign that his hamstring…
Jones showed up in a October 18 injury-update roundup alongside other players and teams, a sign that his hamstring is being tracked closely around the league as Denver's rotation takes shape. He was also mentioned in an October 5 Nuggets notes piece from Bennett Durando that touched on rotation questions. Neither report confirmed a timeline beyond what Denver has already said about his hamstring, but the attention reflects how much the Nuggets need him back on the floor to round out their wing depth.
