Eight games into his NBA return, Mario Hezonja has already made a strong case that this stint in Cleveland is going to stick.
The first go-round didn’t last, but this version of Hezonja is arriving with a different résumé and a much bigger opportunity. He came back as a EuroLeague MVP, and the early results have shown a player who has fit quickly and done more than simply fill a spot. With Cleveland dealing with recent injury news, his role could grow even more from here.
One of the biggest reasons he’s earned trust so fast is on the glass. Hezonja entered Wednesday averaging just under six rebounds per game, then added eight more.
Cleveland has been searching for help cleaning up the boards, and he’s given them exactly that. He’s not avoiding contact, he’s not drifting out of the action, and he’s been willing to chase loose balls and keep the pace moving when the opportunity is there.
That effort showed up again against the Oklahoma City Thunder last night. In a rough opening stretch, Hezonja kept firing.
He didn’t back away from the three-point line or the mid-range game, and he knocked down a pair of fourth-quarter threes as Cleveland tried to claw all the way back from a 25-point hole. The comeback didn’t happen, but Hezonja gave them a real lift.
He finished 5-10 from the field with two triples, and the Cavs as a team hit 10 threes in the final quarter just to stay within striking distance. Hezonja is now making nearly 46% of his shots, a clear jump from his previous NBA run.
Mario Hezonja was a bright spot yet again:12 Points8 Rebounds3 Assists2 Steals4/9 FG3/7 3PT1/2 FT#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/H61rtWuxZq
What stands out beyond the numbers is how willing he’s been to handle whatever Cleveland asks of him. Rebounding, moving the ball, taking the tougher defensive assignment - he’s done it all. That kind of versatility has made him one of the season’s more surprising names for this team.
And with Peyton Watson out of the lineup, Hezonja has been asked to do even more. Jarrett Allen’s injury timeline could push Thomas Bryant into a larger role, and it may do the same for Hezonja. He started the second half last night for size, and if Cleveland wants Evan Mobley at the 5, Hezonja could open games at power forward as the team stays short-handed up front.
He’s also shown he can handle that defensive workload. Against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he kept grinding and kept doing the job Cleveland needed.
Jaylon Tyson --> Mario Hezonja --> Jaylon Tyson --> THREE POINTSpic.twitter.com/RnXIY5tWUo https://t.co/COcPXfLr9x
For now, he looks like exactly what the Cavaliers hoped for: a winner who does what’s asked and then some. Clear eyes.
Full Hezonja. Can’t lose.
A+ teammate grade.
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