By Sam Amico
ProBasketballNews.com
CLEVELAND: Two months ago, Damon Jones was dreaming of a trade for Christmas. Instead, he got regular minutes off the Cleveland Cavaliers’ bench for the New Year.
Jones is a 6-foot-3 guard and perimeter shooting specialist, a basketball vagabond who has played for 10 teams since entering the NBA in 1998.
Prior to his stint in Cleveland (in its third season), Jones had never spent more than one year at each stop. Throughout his career, his minutes have been erratic, his production unpredictable.
In case that’s not enough, Jones’ career began
in basketball purgatory -- as he bounced around
leagues such as the CBA, IBA and USBL, and
played in cities like Boise, Idaho, or Rapid City,
S.D., or Jacksonville, Fla.
While Jones admits it can get a little frustrating,
he says he has never once doubted that he
belongs.
“I’m just looking for that ultimate situation where
I can play consistent minutes the whole way
through, and not have a lull where I don’t play
at all for four or five games,“ Jones told
ProBasketballNews.com. “That’s all I’m looking
for -- the place where I’ll get that opportunity for
a full season, and on a consistent basis.”
Jones began this season as a regular part of Cavs coach Mike Brown’s rotation. Then suddenly, he vanished to near the end of the bench. He was buried so far that in a game against Miami on Christmas Day, Jones refused to check in during the fourth quarter.
A little more than a week later, Brown summoned Jones again. This time, Jones listened, playing for the first time in seven games and staying on the floor for 18 minutes. He hit a couple of 3-pointers and was solid on defense.
That was Jan. 7, and Jones has been a mainstay in the rotation ever since.
“It was not planned, I just felt it was time to call his number,” Brown said at the time. “He did it, too. He came through for us.”
And with injuries to backcourt teammates like Sasha Pavlovic and Daniel Gibson, Jones has been relied upon more heavily in the past few weeks.
For the year, he’s averaging 6.0 points in just more than 19 minutes per game. It may not be the type of consistency he’s seeking, but it’s a heck of a lot closer than before. And at least he doesn’t feel the need to publicly hint about a trade. Or as is sometimes the case with the often-colorful Jones (he’s currently sporting a Mohawk), he hasn’t flat-out demanded a trade.
“I just have a lot of confidence in my abilities,“ he said. “I know certain situations are different than others, and that I will play in some systems more than others.”
Suddenly, Jones is sounding almost diplomatic.
But as he will tell you, anything that might be perceived as the occasional emotional outburst is based solely on his love of the game.
That passion is why he spends hour after hour, day after day putting up shot after shot in the off-season -- even when he isn’t sure where his next basketball home may be.
“I’m gonna work hard every summer. That’s a no-brainer when it comes to me,“ Jones said. “We all know that you got college guys or free-agent guys who are trying to come in and get spots. So it’s important to continue to get better so I can keep my spot.”
Jones shoots each day during the summer “until I’m fatigued.” Then he tries to put up even more shots the next day.
“There’s no secret. Conditioning is a big part of this,“ he said. “You have to be able to hold up over an 82-game season. So the summer consists of lots of shooting.”
It’s the type of routine that has enabled Jones to make a career out of this game, to go from being a guy riding a bus in Boise to one who suits up regularly next to LeBron James.
And if it happened to Jones, maybe it can happen to you, too.
“The biggest thing is to continue to work hard and believe you’re a great player” Jones said. “If you don’t think you’re a great player, no one else will. Be confident and stay focused. That’s my best advice to all the young guys who are where I once was.”
Sam Amico is the editor ot ProBasketballNews.com. Contact him or subscribe to his free e-mail newsletter at amico@probasketballnews.com.
