Jones, Hughes, James form special bond

The three even have even made up their own handshake.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- When the Cleveland Cavaliers brought in Larry Hughes to be LeBron James' running mate, they did it thinking the two would be a perfect complement on the court, not off of it.
But since Hughes moved to Cleveland during the summer, he and James, along with fellow free-agent import Damon Jones, have developed an off-court friendship. The three are regulars at each other's houses, at dinners, or in front of their various big screens watching games.
Often the group expands to four or five players, sometimes more, but that threesome has been a constant.
Genuine bond
Of course, the old cliches about building chemistry off the court to find it on the court apply, but the three seem to have a genuine bond, even though their personalities are very different.
"We feel comfortable with one another in a lot of different situations I found," Jones said. "We seem to fit well together."
Jones has built a reputation during his career for making friends with the team's stars. Last year, when he was in Miami, Jones became of one of Shaquille O'Neal's best friends off the court.
Call it a point guard's prerogative.
James has bonded with teammates since his high school days and still counts those guys among his closest confidants.
Hughes is more introverted and quiet, but even he has surprised himself at how quickly he became a regular after practices with James, Jones and some of his other new teammates.
"I've been on teams before where a couple guys are very close," Hughes said. "I've never been on a team where there's such a large group of guys that get together off the floor."
Hughes makes sure to spend time with his wife and three children, and James also makes being with his girlfriend and son a priority, but when it's not basketball time or family time, it's a safe bet the trio finds a way to meet.
Special handshake
They've even made up their own special handshake that involves three hand slaps, a wave and a pose that James and Jones often display on the court.
It was no secret that the Cavs' locker room had its share of issues last season. With that safely in the past, several veterans have whispered that it became a distraction toward the end of the season.
Every team faces it at one time or another, this group probably included, but so far there have been mostly good vibes.
"I'm not doing it because I have to; I'm doing it because I want to," James said. "You have to be with them for five, six or seven months so you have to have relationships."
XSaturday's Cavaliers game was not completed in time for today's edition.