Editor’s note: The Chronicle is reviewing the season of each player after the Warriors’ second straight championship run.

Jordan Bell packed several years’ worth of experiences into his rookie season. In an eight-month span, he was a starter, a fan favorite, an injured reserve, a bench warmer and, ultimately, an NBA champion.

But even when Bell was out of the rotation, few doubted his immense potential. At 6-foot-9, 224 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan and quick feet, he is the type of prototypical small-ball center so prized in the modern NBA. Now, as one of two centers under contract with the Warriors for next season (Damian Jones is the other), Bell is in line for a much-expanded role.

This much is certain: Regardless of what happens, he shouldn’t be fazed. Perhaps no player on Golden State’s roster endured more ups and downs than Bell did this past season.

Bell, who fell to the second round — No. 38 overall — of last June’s draft, was an early-season revelation. His December averages — 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks per game — had many viewing him as a foundational piece of Golden State’s future. Free to run the floor and throw down dunks, Bell quickly became a fan favorite.

Twenty-four seconds into the Warriors’ Jan. 17 win over the Bulls, Bell landed awkwardly after trying unsuccessfully to block a Robin Lopez dunk. Bell left the court in a wheelchair and missed Golden State’s next 14 games with an inflamed left ankle.

Less than two weeks after he returned to the court, Bell went up for a block attempt in a win over Brooklyn and came down at an odd angle, spraining his right ankle. He missed three more games, but ankle tweaks persisted.

Rest, different shoes, rehab exercises — none of it seemed to work. After rolling his ankle yet again in a March 27 loss to Indiana, Bell briefly considered sitting out the rest of the season to get completely healthy.

When Bell was sidelined, Kevon Looney had emerged as the team’s top small-ball center. Instead of dwelling on his dwindling playing time, Bell stayed late after practice for games of 3-on-3, worked on defending guards and forwards, and hoped that his professionalism would be rewarded with more minutes.

After being limited to 36 garbage-time minutes through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Bell began to get extended run in the Western Conference finals against Houston. His ability to defend James Harden and Chris Paul off ball screens was a big asset as Golden State outlasted the Rockets in seven games.

In Game 3 of the NBA Finals against Cleveland, Bell provided a spark off the bench, posting 10 points and six rebounds in 12 minutes. Days later, after the Warriors swept the Cavaliers, he reveled in the championship as much as anyone.

More Information Jordan Bell Age: 23 Position: Center Ht./Wt.: 6-9, 224 pounds Hometown: Los Angeles College: Oregon Years pro: 1 2017-18 averages: 4.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 14.2 minutes per game Contract status: Entering second year of two-year rookie deal

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And who could blame him? To get to that point, Bell had weathered more than most.

Offseason outlook: Bell, who has one year left in his rookie deal, will be on Golden State’s Summer League teams next month in Sacramento and Las Vegas. A string of big performances would only help his chances of opening training camp atop the depth chart at center.

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