Miami basketball alum James Jones ready for first NBA Draft as GM

The James Jones Legacy Foundation is more than an organization that has his name on it. DeVenya Armstrong who runs the JJFL spoke to Richardson about the example Jones sets in the community.

"“He doesn’t just show up for one day, take a pic and then say, ‘I’m gone. He wants the kids to see him as a regular person: that cousin, that uncle, that god-brother. I’ve gotten a bunch of emails from past parents involved in the camp and they’re all asking, ‘Are you guys doing the camp this year?’ This summer, I had to tell them that it’s different being in the front office than playing on the court.”"

Jones mother Jennifer instilled compassion in him. She told him to help his teachers and be memorable in positive ways. Her relatives thought her expectations for her son were too high. Jennifer Jones spoke to Richardson about his upbringing.

"“I don’t think I had super lofty expectations for James. Friends and families and others may have thought so. I would just tell him, ‘If everybody is loud and nosy and the teacher is having a hectic day, stay behind and pick up a few pieces of paper. Pick up the chair, hand her a pencil, open the door for her, get there early because with 39 things going on and you’re the 39th thing in her classroom, could you please move to the other (side) so she only has 38 things to deal with? It was always about being an example.” It’s been exciting to see. Like most things in order to evolve and grow, you have to be met with some challenges. I believe it’s not more difficult than he thought. I don’t think it’s more work than he thought. I think he understands that all of life is work and ethic. People even work at being lazy.” James Jones is the warm and fuzzy in people where (former Miami Heat teammate) Udonis (Haslem) might be the woot, woot, woot!. They’re both present in the community, but James is present like a cup of hot chocolate as opposed to a shot of tequila.”"

Jones is setting a precedent beyond being the first and only former Miami basketball player who is an NBA general manager. He is currently one of only four black general managers in the NBA.

The others are 1999 NBA number one pick Elton Brand with Philadelphia, Koby Altman of Cleveland and Scott Perry with the New York Knicks. That doesn’t include Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri who just became the first NBA Executive to lead a team outside the United States to a title.

Jones still finds time to give back to the Miami basketball program. He spent time at a UM fundraiser in Cleveland during the 2014 NBA Finals. Miami athletic director Blake James spoke to Richardson.

"“He took the time before the finals to come out and shake hands with people,” UM athletic director Blake James said. “We didn’t expect him. He didn’t have to do it. That’s just the type of person he is. He was always talking big picture. A lot of conversations are about individual situations and what’s going on with someone and where they’re at professionally. I’d have those conversations with James but a lot of them would be big picture things. How do we better prepare people for life after basketball, whether that’s after college basketball or professional basketball?’ It was one of those situations he was always looking at the bigger picture.”"

The Miami basketball program is still important to Jones. Richardson wrote that Jones still meets with James and Miami alums once per year. He is frequent communication via phone to help come out with ideas to improve the basketball program.