The Cleveland Cavaliers may have found an under-the-radar contributor in second-year guard Jaylon Tyson, who seems set to take on a larger role in the 2025-26 NBA season. Head coach Kenny Atkinson shares that belief, with Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto noting on the Terry’s Talkin’ podcast that Atkinson is high on the 22-year-old’s potential impact.
“Jaylon Tyson is a guy that I know Kenny Atkinson is high on,” Pluto said (h/t Jared Koch of Sports Illustrated).
Tyson, the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, saw limited action as a rookie, appearing in 47 games. He averaged 3.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in just under 10 minutes per contest, shooting 43.0% from the field and 34.0% from three. While his contributions were modest, Cleveland’s offseason roster changes may open the door for him to earn a larger role. With Isaac Okoro and Ty Jerome departing, there are minutes available in the rotation, particularly on the wing.
The Cavaliers’ belief in Tyson comes from his development and strong showing at the 2025 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Across three games, he averaged 19.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game, while also recording 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks.
His playmaking was particularly notable, as his 6.7 assists ranked sixth among all Summer League players. Jaylon Tyson shot just 40.4% overall, but one poor night (3-for-13) skewed that figure. Even then, he compensated by getting to the line, where he converted 9-of-10 free throws.
Kenny Atkinson has gone so far as to compare Tyson’s mentality to that of Caris LeVert, a player he previously coached with the Brooklyn Nets. LeVert, the 20th overall pick in 2016, was not a can’t-miss prospect but carved out a nine-year (and counting) NBA career by averaging 13.9 points per game through consistency and relentless work.
Jaylon Tyson himself has expressed confidence that he can fill a void the Cavaliers lacked last season, particularly with his physicality and versatility. He sees himself as a player capable of complementing Cleveland’s core and providing secondary playmaking alongside his off-ball skills.
