Jaylon Tyson: ‘I want to be an All-Defensive player for my rookie year’

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Jaylon Tyson shared one of his lofty goals for his first season in the NBA.

“I want to be an All-Defensive player for my rookie year,” Tyson said. “That’s my goal. If I do that, now you’re talking about every box being checked right there.

“That’s the biggest thing I’m going to work on. I’m going to work my tail off to be able to accomplish that goal because when I have goals, I’m not just setting ‘em just to try to find a goal. I’m actually trying to hit these goals.”

Tyson made his first start of his NBA career on Nov. 20 against the New Orleans Pelicans, and he delivered in a big way. The rookie had 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field (1-for-4 from 3-point range), 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals in the Cavs’ 16th win of the 2024-25 season.

Cleveland has dealt with some injuries at the wing and forward spots with Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert, Max Strus and Dean Wade all missing time. That led to Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson putting Tyson in the starting lineup, and the rookie clearly didn’t miss his first chance at extended minutes.

So far this season, Tyson has only appeared in seven games for the Cavs, and he’s only played more than eight minutes in one of them (his start against New Orleans).

So, it may be hard for the rookie to qualify for an All-Defensive team, but it’s good to see that his head is in the right place.

The Cavs are off to a great start in the 2024-25 season, and their core four of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen appears to be working well in Atkinson’s system.

However, the Cavs may need other players to step up as the season goes on, especially if players are lost to injury. Tyson, the No. 20 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, could end up being a key piece for the Cavs down the line.

A three-year player in college, Tyson averaged 19.6 points per game in the 2023-24 season while shooting 36.0 percent from beyond the arc. He certainly has the raw scoring ability that could make him an impactful player in the NBA, but he may find his way onto the court more if he can defend at a high level.

Tyson’s next chance to make an impact for the Cavs could come on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors, as the Cavs ruled out LeVert, Strus and Wade for that matchup.