Jaylon Tyson is starting to look like one of the best stories of the Cavaliers’ season - and maybe one of the most compelling breakout players in the league. In just his second year, the swingman has gone from intriguing prospect to a legitimate two-way contributor, and Cleveland is reaping the benefits.
Let’s start with the numbers. Tyson’s averaging 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting a scorching .513 from the field, .462 from deep, and .757 from the line.
That three-point percentage? It’s top-five in the league.
His effective field goal percentage? A rock-solid 61.4%, good for 13th in the NBA.
But what’s stood out even more than the stats is the way he’s fitting into the Cavs’ system - and the trust he’s earned from both his teammates and coaching staff.
Donovan Mitchell saw it early. The Cavs’ All-Star guard has been one of Tyson’s biggest advocates, both publicly and behind the scenes. He’s been pushing Tyson’s case for Most Improved Player, sure, but more importantly, he’s been mentoring him through the grind of an NBA season - and that’s showing up on the floor.
One of the most effective dynamics between the two has been their short-roll chemistry. It’s not something you always expect from a young wing, but Tyson’s shown a knack for reading the floor in those quick-decision moments.
When Mitchell runs a high pick-and-roll and Tyson sets the screen, the Cavs open up a world of options. Tyson can roll hard to the elbow, pop out to the wing, or act as a decoy while Mitchell goes to work.
That kind of versatility in the two-man game adds a layer of unpredictability to Cleveland’s offense - and it’s something head coach Kenny Atkinson has leaned into.
“I think obviously we work on it in practice,” Tyson said earlier this month. “Donovan was kind of putting it in my head earlier in the year, so we worked on it in training camp.
Just my ability to be able to make quick reads out of it - I could pass out of it. Also, working on that little floater.
I feel like that’s helped me.”
It’s not just about scoring, though. Tyson’s development as a decision-maker has been just as important.
He’s learning how to process coverages, spot cutters, and make the right play in tight windows. Of his 178 assisted field goals this season, Mitchell has accounted for 40 - the most of any teammate.
That’s not a coincidence. There’s a level of trust there that’s hard to fake.
Mitchell’s message to Tyson has been clear: you don’t have to score 20 a night to make an impact. Think Bruce Brown.
Think Royce O’Neale. Think Josh Hart.
Guys who thrive in the margins - in the half-roll, on defense, on hustle plays. Tyson is starting to carve out that kind of role, and then some.
“Even if he doesn’t keep up the high level of scoring, I tell him, ‘Look, if you play in the half roll, I don’t care if you score 20, if you score zero points,’” Mitchell said. “Bruce Brown, Royce O’Neale, those two guys, Josh Hart - they’ve made a killing in the half roll.
You can be that. And credit to him that he’s doing that, and also being able to come out and have 22 and 13 on certain nights.”
That versatility is what’s making Tyson so valuable. He’s not just a shooter - though he’s been elite from deep - and he’s not just a defender, even though he’s been one of Cleveland’s more reliable perimeter stoppers. He’s becoming a connector, the kind of player who helps an offense flow and a defense stay locked in.
Atkinson, who’s known for his player development chops, went into detail about what makes Tyson effective in the short roll.
“You have to be able to get in and out of the roll quickly,” Atkinson explained. “I always feel like you have to get a hip turn really good, like from a physical standpoint, get to hit.
And then, you become a decision-maker. So I would say the physical part, the technique on it, the hip turn, and then when you catch it in there, you’ve got this landscape, right?
Is it rim? Is it pop to the dunker?
Is it a kickout? It’s become such a big part of our game - the hybrid players.”
Tyson’s not perfect in that role - no young player is - but he’s been timely. He’s averaging 1.05 points per possession as a roll man, and that’s a strong number for a second-year wing still learning the nuances of NBA defenses. He’s made the right reads in big moments, whether it’s a floater in traffic or a quick dish to a cutting teammate.
Off the court, Tyson’s mindset has been just as impressive. He’s stayed grounded, even as his role has grown. He’s leaned on the Cavs’ staff, his trainers, and veterans like Larry Nance Jr., who reminded him how rare this kind of opportunity is.
“There’ll be days I’ll come to the gym and can’t throw a pebble in the ocean,” Tyson admitted. “People around me and my trainers and staff here, they just tell me, just keep shooting it, keep shooting it, have confidence, and we need you to shoot that shot. So ultimately, my mental has just gotten way better.”
And then there’s this: “I think it was Larry [Nance Jr.] that told me that this opportunity you got ahead of you, not a lot of people get. Obviously, we had a couple of injuries, opened up some room for me to be able to play and say, ‘Yo, like, you’ve got to take advantage of it.
Because a lot of people don’t get this opportunity.’ I feel like that’s what stuck in my mind, and it’s been with me this whole year.”
Tyson’s emergence hasn’t just been a nice surprise for the Cavs - it’s been a key part of their identity this season. In a league where development windows can be short and roles can shift overnight, he’s proving he belongs. And if he keeps trending like this, the conversation around him won’t just be about Most Improved - it’ll be about what kind of ceiling he can reach in Cleveland.