The Cleveland Cavaliers have quietly flipped the script on their season. After a rocky start, they’re gaining traction-and doing it without one of their key playmakers in Darius Garland.
With Garland sidelined due to injury, the Cavs were in desperate need of someone to step up in the backcourt. Enter Jaylon Tyson.
In just his second NBA season, Tyson is proving he’s more than just a stopgap. He’s becoming a legitimate contributor on both ends of the floor, and head coach Kenny Atkinson is taking notice.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a case of a young player simply filling minutes. Tyson is impacting games.
He’s defending with intensity, making smart reads, and showing a growing confidence in creating offense-something that’s not easy to do alongside a high-usage star like Donovan Mitchell. But Tyson’s presence hasn’t just complemented Mitchell; it’s elevated the Cavs’ backcourt during a stretch when they’ve needed it most.
Ahead of Cleveland’s recent win over the Orlando Magic, Atkinson didn’t hold back in his praise for the second-year guard.
“I think the consistency, we're rolling him out with big minutes... We've played him 35 a game.
We need him on the floor,” Atkinson said. “I told him this for the first time last night, ‘You gotta create for us more.’
I think he did that and still did the dirty work. Kid is answering the bell.”
That’s a telling quote. Atkinson isn’t just impressed with Tyson’s effort-he’s trusting him with more responsibility.
Asking a young guard to create offense, while still handling the gritty, less glamorous parts of the game? That’s a sign the coaching staff sees something special.
What makes Tyson’s rise even more impressive is that Atkinson didn’t expect this kind of leap so soon. He knew he had a solid player, but Tyson’s growth in just his second year is exceeding expectations.
And let’s not forget: this is a team with postseason aspirations. They’re not just looking for development-they need production.
With Garland’s timeline still uncertain, Tyson’s role isn’t going anywhere. He’s earned his spot in the rotation, and more importantly, he’s earned the trust of a coaching staff that’s trying to steer this team toward a deep playoff run. Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, Tyson’s blend of defensive grit and offensive upside is exactly what Cleveland needs right now.
The Cavaliers may still be navigating injuries and inconsistency, but Tyson’s emergence is a major bright spot-and if he keeps trending upward, he could be a difference-maker when it matters most.