The Denver Nuggets won't have to look very far to find the next Spencer Jones after they selected Bryce Hopkins with the 49th pick in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Hopkins, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound wing from St. John's, could work out to be a great replacement for Jones' old role in the two-way contract slot.
Another addition to the Mile High pic.twitter.com/ogg6KYBO65
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 25, 2026
The Nuggets found out last year the hard way that two-way depth is critical to roster construction when injuries pile up at once, especially when it's at one position group. Jones was asked to not only step into the rotation, but he also found himself in the starting lineup 37 times, and he was promoted to a full-time contract to finish the season out, starting three playoff games for the injured Aaron Gordon.
The Nuggets didn't even have a second-round pick last year, and they did quite well with the undrafted Jones. The hope with Hopkins will be that the Nuggets can catch two-way lightning in a bottle again, should they end up offering him the spot. Second-round picks are not guaranteed a roster spot or a two-way contract.
Two-way players have been making an impact
Hopkins could have a great opportunity with the Nuggets, given the track record of Jones and former two-way player Collin Gillespie. Gillespie had a great season for the Phoenix Suns on a one-year contract after having successfully parlayed the two-way contract he received into a full-time role after the Nuggets let him go after two years in Denver on two-way contracts. He cashed in on his Suns franchise record for three pointers made this season to the tune of a four-year, $48 million deal.
Hopkins will be a seasoned rookie, turning 25 years old this September, having come back in 2025-26 for a healthy fifth year after missing almost all of 2024-25 with an injury to the same knee that he injured in 2023-24 that limited him to just 14 games. The injury concern is there, but the Nuggets don't have much to lose if they just try Hopkins out in the two-way slot next year.
Hopkins averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals while starting all 37 games for the Red Storm in 2025-26, good enough to earn All Big East Second Team honors. He had a strong post-season run and a great showing at the combine.
Storm the Paint's Kevin Conelly said, "Hopkins' postseason opened a lot of eyes as he shot 13-for-20 from 3-point range in the Big East and NCAA Tournaments." It certainly probably helped put him on the Nuggets' radar, and now he'll have a shot to compete to take over for two former two-way success stories if the Nuggets give Hopkins that chance.
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