The Cleveland Cavaliers have brought back mostly the same roster that they had to end last season; continuity is something the Cavs are prioritizing, with Donovan Mitchell even expressing how important it is for the team to stay the course, especially when they have been seeing incremental improvements in results since his arrival in Cleveland in 2022. But it seems as though one of the team’s few new additions has already been making his mark this early in training camp.
Drafted by the Cavs with the 20th overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, Jaylon Tyson has been receiving rave reviews from his teammates, with Caris LeVert saying that Tyson is conducting himself as though he’s already played a few years in the NBA.
“Jaylon knows how to play the game. He’s very smart. He knows what spots to be in offensively and defensively, and he’s very eager to learn. He’s played a lot of basketball. I didn’t even know he was 21. I would have thought he was 24 or 25 with the way he kind of handles himself and knows where to be,” LeVert told reporters, via Jason Simpson of Cavaliers Nation.
It’s already a major win for the Cavs if they were able to draft a solid contributor for years to come with the 20th overall selection of this year’s draft; after all, this latest draft class has been panned for being one of the worst in recent memory. But LeVert believes that Tyson has plenty of upside considering how seamlessly he fits within what the Cavs are building.
“I think he has a lot of upside. A lot of Cavs fans are going to be excited when they see him play. I think he fits right in to what we do,” LeVert added.
Evan Mobley and Max Strus rave about the Cavs rookie
Jaylon Tyson played three years of college ball, breaking out in his junior campaign with the California Golden Bears. Tyson averaged 19.6 points. 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 47/36/80 shooting splits, making him a solid prospect to take a chance on for the Cavs in the first round of this year’s draft.
Tyson is well-traveled; he transferred twice over the past three years, taking his talents from Texas to Texas Tech and then to California before making it to the NBA with the Cavs. Perhaps this level of experience when it comes to integrating himself in new situations is helping him immensely as he makes the leap to the NBA, as Max Strus also praised his level of maturity.
“Our rook has impressed me. He plays basketball the right way. He’s mature in the way he carries himself. He’s not out here asking for the ball or trying to do too much. He’s just trying to get in where he fits in. As a rookie, that’s not easy to do always. It’s impressive to see that. It’s refreshing to have a rookie come in and do that,” Strus said.
Even Evan Mobley had nothing but good things to say about the Cavs rookie.
“He’s been a great all-around player. Goes in there and gives you what you need. Rebounds, can shoot the ball, attacks and creates plays for others.”
As a 6’7″ wing, Tyson will have plenty of competition for minutes on the Cavs roster. In his rookie year, he’s unlikely to play over the likes of LeVert, Isaac Okoro, and Max Strus, but considering how highly the team views Tyson, don’t be too surprised if he ends up being a rotation piece sooner or later.
