SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – Former NBA player Damon Jones put LeBron James through pregame shooting workouts during last year’s NBA Finals. Months later, Jones is now working out NBA Development League players as an assistant coach with the Canton Charge.

After initially taking a minor-league route to the NBA as a player, Jones is now taking the D-League route in hopes of moving up the coaching ladder.

View photos Damon Jones (L) and LeBron James during their days playing together with the Cavs. (AP) More

“We’re not far away from each other. Canton is 45 minutes away from Cleveland,” Jones said of James. “He’s supportive. He knows the basketball mind I have, and he’s confident I can get the job done. He says, ‘Hey, just go down there and do your thing.’ “

Jones and James became close friends when both were with the Cavaliers from 2005-08. Jones’ 11-year NBA career with 10 teams ended after playing with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2008-09 season. Jones remained close with James after his NBA days concluded.

Upon James’ return to Cleveland in 2014, he helped a retired Jones land a job as his personal shooting coach, while aiding other Cavs players from time to time as well.

“He’s been very instrumental,” Jones said of his coaching career. “He was the reason why I got the opportunity last [season]. He felt comfortable in me helping him in any way possible. It gave me an avenue to get back in the game. Not only right now, but even when I played we had a great relationship and he did a lot of things for my career. Without him, I don’t know if the opportunities I’m receiving right now would be received.”

The Charge, the Cavaliers’ D-League affiliate, had an assistant coach opening on head coach Jordi Fernandez’s staff this season, and Jones joined the team on a one-year deal.

“What I was doing last season, I was focused on helping the guys with shooting and things of that nature,” Jones said. “I felt good about that and worked really hard on it. The guys were successful doing it. But I just feel like I have a little bit more that I have to give to the game. The opportunity came and here I am.”

Jones is vocal on Canton’s bench, makes game plans on opposing teams, calls substitutions and plays, works with guards off the court and also provides comic relief when needed. While the former sharpshooting combo guard’s 657 career NBA games gain instant respect from players, he is also respecting the opportunity to improve his coaching.

“X's, O’s and stuff, once you’ve been in an NBA huddle or locker room, you’ve kind of picked those things up along the way. I’ve been with a lot of coaches and studied them and watched how they interact and do things. The game management part is probably what I have to say is something I’m not all the way good at right now,” Jones said.

View photos Damon Jones wants to eventually be a head coach. (Getty) More

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