By the time someone gets to the NBA, most of their raw potential has already been explored. A 23-year-old prospect rarely stumbles into a new, prolific role that they’ve never attempted before. But for Jaylon Tyson and the Cleveland Cavaliers, experimentation has led to a great revelation.
Tyson’s found success being a pick-and-roll partner with both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden this season. Being the roller in these scenarios is something that Tyson says he’s never done before. You wouldn’t
be able to tell watching the games, as this action seems to be second-nature to him.
“Honestly, this is my first time ever doing it,” Tyson said. “I feel like a big man, so it’s a little bit weird… I’ve never experienced this, but that’s what they asked me to do.”
Tyson entered the league as a well-rounded prospect. He could do a little bit of everything in college. The concern with that archetype is whether or not any individual skill will translate to the NBA-level. No one wants a Jack of All Trades who is a master of none.
That hasn’t been the case in Tyson’s sophomore season.
He’s made a monumental leap as a three-point shooter, currently third in the league for three-point percentage (min. 100 attempts). Meanwhile, he’s finishing below the rim, serving as a connective playmaker, and embracing the challenge defensively by setting the tone with his physicality.
In other words, he’s playing like the perfect role player. Something Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson has referenced numerous times.
What does this have to do with him rolling to the rim? Everything.
All of Tyson’s fine skills have translated to this two-man action. He can set a firm screen and crash hard to the rim, but he can also float in the middle of the floor and nail floaters. If the paint is crowded, he’ll relocate to the three-point line and drill a catch-and-shoot attempt. And if the numbers are on his side, Tyson has enough vision to create plays in the short-roll for his teammates.
“I remember Donovan [Mitchell] coming to me early saying, ‘Hey, I need you to do this,’” said Tyson. “Him and Royce O’Neale did it a lot in Utah. He showed me a lot of film about it. Him saying I need you to do this, this would be an element we can use in the playoffs.”
Pairing Tyson with Mitchell (or Harden) has become a no-brainer. Mitchell is able to draw two defenders to the ball so effortlessly that Tyson is being left open on these rolls. From there, it’s a matter of getting him the ball and allowing Tyson to make the right reads.
This action not only relieves pressure from Mitchell but also showcases Tyson’s uncanny knack for finding sweet spots. His instincts as a roller are impressive considering he’s learned this on the fly.
“Every day in the gym, I’m working on it. Working on my floater, working on the pass out of it,” said Tyson. “It’s something that I had to learn this year, but if it’s something that’s going to help our team win, then I’m willing to do it. ”
