DALLAS — After he poked the ball away from MVP candidate Luka Doncic for a breakaway dunk Wednesday night, Warriors guard Ky Bowman landed and, without pausing for the slightest celebration, matched up with Doncic along the baseline.

This was a point of pride for Bowman, who seldom lets an interview pass without stressing his ability to “pick up 94.” The mantra, which references the 94-foot length of an NBA hardwood, speaks to his willingness to do anything — even defend one of the league’s most dynamic scorers full-court — to prove he belongs.

Unlike his seven available teammates, Bowman’s NBA deal doesn’t last through the season. As one of the Warriors’ two two-way-contract players, he is only allotted 45 days with Golden State, a limit he is almost halfway to reaching after just 16 games.

But regardless of whether the Warriors convert Bowman’s deal into a standard minimum contract and keep him from heading to their G League affiliate in Santa Cruz, he will be thankful for the opportunity his two-way status has provided. Like many fringe players, Bowman recognizes that, to carve out a long-term NBA role, he needs only to impress one team.

If he continues to show he can run an offense this season, Bowman could enter free agency next summer with plenty of suitors. A number of former two-way-contract players who now boast standard NBA contracts, including Lakers guard Quinn Cook, Heat forward Duncan Robinson and Magic forward Amile Jefferson, offer Bowman and Golden State’s other two-way-contract player, guard Damion Lee, blueprints for a more stable future.

“I think the two-way contracts are great,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s a really good opportunity for young players to develop, and it’s a great opportunity for the teams to be able to evaluate talent better than they otherwise would. I’m a big fan.”

Two-way contracts were introduced two seasons ago to offer professional basketball’s striving class the precise break that Bowman has found with the Warriors. Instead of using the G League solely to develop 15-man-roster players and call up NBA hopefuls, a team can evaluate two players each season up close as they bounce between the big club and its minor-league affiliate.

Cook, who was waived four times and signed three 10-day contracts before latching on with the Warriors in October 2017, has become the standard-bearer for anyone trying to parlay a two-way deal into a regular NBA role.

With Stephen Curry sidelined for 16 of the final 17 regular-season games of 2017-18 with various injuries, Cook thrived enough as Golden State’s fill-in starter to get his two-way contract converted into a standard NBA deal. In his second full-time season, he is averaging 5.2 points in 14.6 minutes per game for a Lakers team expected to contend for a title. The Warriors’ other two-way contract player from 2017-18, forward Chris Boucher, is now backing up Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol in Toronto.

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But for each two-way success story, there are multiple players who yo-yoed between an NBA club and its G League affiliate for a season, only to have to pursue their goals elsewhere or on another two-way deal.

“The logistics are the toughest part of it for these guys,” Golden State player-development coach Luke Loucks said. “You’re back and forth constantly, and you never really know when the call is coming. A lot of times with two-ways, the biggest thing is staying motivated and taking care of your business in Santa Cruz or whatever G League team you’re with.”

Lee, who shot 39.7% from 3-point range in limited time with Golden State last season, returned to the Warriors on a two-way deal after he fielded no guaranteed offers in free agency. Before he broke his right hand in a Nov. 11 loss to Utah, Lee had emerged as a valued rotation player for an injury-depleted team.

To help their two-way-contract players navigate life on two teams, the Warriors were one of the first NBA franchises to hire a two-way coach.

Loucks held that position for two seasons before he got promoted last summer. Seth Cooper, who left an assistant-coaching position at Illinois-Chicago to replace Loucks, now helps Bowman handle the starting point-guard job with Curry (left hand surgery) and D’Angelo Russell (sprained right thumb) sidelined.

Considered an undersized shooting guard at Boston College, Bowman has made strides as a facilitator, learning how to read NBA defenses and find the open man. But 21 days into his 45-day limit, his biggest assets are his scoring ability and defense.

On four occasions, Bowman has reached the 16-point mark. His defensive rating of 112 ranks among the Warriors’ best.

In the team-provided hotel room he calls home, Bowman keeps a few packed suitcases next to his bed, prepared for a trip to Santa Cruz or another NBA flight. But as the only healthy point guard on Golden State’s roster, he figures to keep picking up 94 feet against the world’s best for a while.

“It’s just a mind-set,” Bowman, who will guard Utah’s Mike Conley on Friday night in Salt Lake City, said of defending full-court. “I know that it’ll help me stay on the court, so it’s just showing that I can get guys out of their plays.”

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Con_Chron