Jaylon Tyson doesn’t lack any confidence. That’s something fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers have quickly learned during the course of his sophomore breakout. When asked about his experiences in the recent Rising Stars Game, Tyson once again reminded us of how confident he is.
“It was cool sharing the court with those guys,” said Tyson. “You know, in the back of my mind, I know I’m better than a lot of those guys, if not all of them, right. I just want to go out there and prove that every single day, and then hopefully be an All-Star one day.”
There you have it. Being in the Rising Stars Game was cool, but Tyson is more interested in making it to Sunday’s event than competing in the rookie/sophomore challenge. If you’ve followed him this season, that shouldn’t surprise you.
Tyson is averaging 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists for Cleveland this season while shooting a scorching hot 47.5% from deep. That makes him the second-best shooter in the league for a minimum of 100 attempts. All the while, Tyson’s rounding into a jack-of-all-trades who can defend the perimeter, crash the offensive glass, and create plays for others in the short-roll.
In summary, Tyson not only talks the talk, but walks the walk. That’s why Donovan Mitchell has had zero hesitation taking him under his wing. Mitchell understands the value of a role player who can adapt to whatever the team asks of him.
“He plays hard, he’s picking up full-court, he’s doing all the things,” Mitchell said of Tyson’s performance in the Rising Stars Game. “He was rebounding, he’s passing, doing everything.”
Hard work and talent earn respect. Tyson’s managed to prove himself in the eyes of his superstar teammate by working relentlessly towards making sure his talents translate to playing winning basketball. He says getting Mitchell’s support has been a blessing, even if it’s sometimes annoying, like when he’s trying to shoot free throws.
“When he walked in, I was actually on the free-throw line,” said Tyson. “Mitchell was over there screaming something. So I’m over there, trying to make this free throw because I was trying to win MVP… and he’s over there screaming something… But I made it so I’m super, super blessed to have him as a vet.”
Jokes aside, Tyson is truly grateful for the mentorship Mitchell has offered. Sometimes even the most confident people in the world can benefit from external reassurance.
“He’s one of those guys I will keep a relationship with forever. I don’t think people understand how much that text message meant to me and the confidence it gave me. I give a lot of credit to him for all my success.”