In three seasons at Vanderbilt, Jones averaged 13.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.69 blocks and 27.2 minutes in 99 games, garnering first-team All-SEC honors as both a sophomore and junior. Jones hit 56.6 percent from the field during his collegiate career, the third-best mark in Vanderbilt history, while finishing second on the school's all-time blocks list. As a junior in 2015–16, Jones averaged 13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.64 blocks in 33 games, helping Vanderbilt to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011–12. On April 14, 2016, Jones declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final year of college eligibility.
While working out with the Orlando Magic in the lead up to the draft, Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle in his right arm, which required surgery. Despite this, Jones was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 30th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. He signed with the Warriors on July 13, and made his NBA debut on December 10 against the Memphis Grizzlies. On February 1, 2017, in his first game for the Warriors at Oracle Arena, Jones scored his first career NBA points in a 126–111 win over the Charlotte Hornets. He appeared in 10 regular-season games and four playoff games during the 2016–17 season. The Warriors were crowned champions in 2017 after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–1 in the NBA Finals. The 2017–18 season saw Jones appear in 15 regular-season games and four playoff games, as the Warriors returned to the NBA Finals, where they won their second straight championship. During his first two seasons, he received multiple assignments to the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State's G League affiliate. Jones became the starting center for the Warriors in 2018–19, starting in 22 of the Warriors' first 24 games. On December 1, 2018, he suffered a torn left pectoral muscle in a 111–102 loss to the Detroit Pistons. He initially was ruled out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair the muscle. He returned to action during the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors went on to reach the 2019 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Toronto Raptors in six games.
Atlanta Hawks (2019–present)
On July 8, 2019, Jones, along with a 2026 second-round pick, was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Omari Spellman.
