Jaylon Tyson showing supreme confidence in his jumper: ‘I know I can shoot the piss out of the ball’

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Jaylon Tyson turned a lot of heads after a raving performance in the team’s Summer League matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tyson finished the Thursday loss nearly recording a triple-double. He had 21 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists and went 6-for-9 from the field and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. After the contest, the swingman spoke to the media and was asked about his jumper, saying that he feels great.

“Oh, I feel amazing,” he said. “I don’t even know when there was questions about it. But I know I can shoot the piss out of the ball. That’s all I’ve ever been. So, I’m super confident in my jump shot.”

The University of California, Berkeley product was the Cavs’ 20th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Perhaps the matchup against the Lakers ignited something inside of him, as it gave him the opportunity to know how he stacks up against more high-profile draft classmates such as Dalton Knecht and Bronny James.

Tyson showed why Cleveland should look into including him in the rotation once the regular season starts. Not only did he shoot the lights out from the field, which could help space the floor for his teammates, but he also showed an all-around game.

The Cavs’ core players are already set, with Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen locked into the starting lineup. But the small forward spot may still be up for grabs. Max Strus seems like it is his to lose, although the coaching staff, led by recent acquisition Kenny Atkinson, could look at other options, such as Caris LeVert.

Tyson is unlikely to jump ahead of the other players, although if he continues to hone his craft, particularly on the defensive end of the floor, he could have a chance at cracking the rotation and getting some consideration for a starting spot in the future.

Cleveland is coming off an appearance in the Eastern Conference semifinals, where it lost to the Boston Celtics in five games. In the 2023 playoffs, the Cavs reached the playoffs for the first time since 2018 but were eliminated by the New York Knicks in the first round.

The franchise is likely looking to advance further in the 2024-25 season, but it would need not just its stars but also its role players to step their games up.