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

For much of this past season, Damian Jones was relegated to watching Golden State on TV.

A crowded frontcourt had left the defending NBA champions with little use for the 7-foot, 245-pounder, a low-post project at age 22. The Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State’s G League affiliate, offered him much-needed playing time.

Unlike his rookie year, when he shuttled 18 times between Golden State and the D-League (since rebranded G League from a Gatorade partnership), Jones played 45 of a possible 50 games this past season with Santa Cruz. His averages — 15.0 points on 67.8 percent shooting, 8.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocks per game — weren’t especially gaudy given the level of competition, but Jones showed flashes of dominance.

In a Nov. 19 loss to the Iowa Wolves, he needed only 15 shots and 33 minutes to score 29 points. There was also Jones’ 23-point, 16-rebound, 4-block gem in a Dec. 3 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

To make sure Jones still felt connected to the big club, Steve Kerr called him up periodically on Santa Cruz’s off days to practice with Golden State and watch games from the bench. In late March, after Santa Cruz’s final game, Jones was recalled from the G League for Golden State’s championship push.

With the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed out of reach, Jones spent the last two-plus weeks of the regular season in the rotation. Anyone who still questioned whether he was worth a first-round draft pick needed only to watch Jones showcase his immense athleticism.

Playing some of the first meaningful minutes of his NBA career in an April 3 win at Oklahoma City, Jones played solid defense on Steven Adams, ran the floor, threw down a couple dunks and blocked a Josh Huestis layup attempt.

Kerr was so impressed that, with a victory hanging in the balance in a hostile road environment, he kept Jones on the floor. Three of Jones’ four field goals came in the final five minutes. Two nights later at Indiana, Jones was the first center off the bench in the first and second halves, posting seven points on 3-for-4 shooting in 12 minutes.

It all raised an intriguing question: Is Jones ready to transition from raw prospect into reliable contributor?

He and Jordan Bell are the only centers under contract with Golden State for next season. With David West expected to contemplate retirement this summer, and JaVale McGee and Zaza Pachulia not necessarily in the team’s long-term plans, Jones could be poised for a much-expanded role in 2018-19.

Offseason outlook: Jones, who has at least 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 cracking the Warriors’ rotation next season.

More Information Damian Jones Age: 22 Position: Center Ht./Wt.: 7-0, 245 pounds Hometown: Baton Rouge, La. College: Vanderbilt Years pro: 2 2017-18 averages: 1.7 points, 0.9 rebounds, 5.9 minutes per game Contract status: Entering third year of rookie deal

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