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In him LeBron trusts
Basketball has carried ex-Buckeye Chris Jent and his family around the world to his role as coach and confidant to the Cavs' superstar, but the trip has been far from smooth
Sunday, March 15, 2009
By Mike Wagner
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


KYLE ROBERTSON | DISPATCH
Chris Jent watches LeBron James shoot before a Cavaliers' game at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The assistant coach's relationship with James extends beyond games to late-night practice sessions and off-season time.



CHRIS RUSSELL | DISPATCH
Jent shoots over Michigan's Chris Webber during an OSU game at St. John Arena in March 1992. Webber was Jent's nemesis that year.


KYLE ROBERTSON | DISPATCH
Chris Jent and his dad, Arnie. Arnie Jent routinely drove more than 1,000 miles to watch Chris' games when he played for Ohio State.

LeBron James was in the practice gym, but most eyes, including those of the basketball king, were on the man with the pure, effortless shooting stroke.

The new guy for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, the one who rarely missed a three-point shot, wasn't even a player.

But he had something James wanted.

That something always seemed natural to Chris Jent, from his days playing neighborhood hoops in his small New Jersey town to games in Ohio State's St. John Arena to stops in countless steamy gyms on three continents.

"Seeing the way he could shoot the basketball, I thought 'maybe you could help my shot look like yours,' " James said. "From there, I gravitated to his work ethic, his honesty and genuine personality."

Jent endeared himself to Buckeyes fans with constant floor burns and a soft shooting touch as a player from 1988 to 1992, and he has done the same for the Cavs with his basketball IQ and passion.

But Jent's route to Cleveland was rarely smooth. It took him on a grueling tour of small European towns and offered the thrill of playing for a championship NBA team.

He is torn between duty and family. Basketball -- and his relationship with LeBron James in particular -- has at times caused tension at home.

The native of Sparta, N.J., became director of player development for the Cavs in 2006 and is a full-time assistant coach for the team tied for the NBA's best record.

He works tirelessly with all of the Cavaliers, and like other assistant coaches, he scouts opponents and sometimes runs team huddles during games.

But his relationship with James, one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet, extends far beyond his normal duties, late into most nights during the season and much of the off-season.

"In my situation, it's hard to trust people, but I trust Chris, and there is just this vibe between us," James said.

James' shooting has steadily improved, but Jent shrugs off credit for helping make the league's potential MVP even better.

"The amount of time he has put into being a better shooter is unreal," Jent said. "You can't imagine how hard he works at this. During the summer, it's just us alone in the gym with no other bull. He puts a lot of trust in me and I work hard for him. He's so young, but just having an honest relationship with someone appeals to him and I."

The Columbus Dispatch : In him LeBron trusts

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