Ty Jerome is the unsung hero of the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers

When a team goes on a winning streak in any sport, the focus is usually on that team's star player or head coach.

This also applies to the current 15-0. cleveland cavaliersand for good reason.

New head coach Kenny Atkinson is off to the best start in franchise history. Darius Garland is making a strong case for his second All-Star appearance. He has been the best closer in the NBA so far this season. Donovan Mitchell remains a dangerous scorer, even though he hasn't had to do as much heavy lifting this season as in past seasons. Evan Mobley is finally becoming the player everyone believed he could be, and Jarrett Allen is grittier, tougher and more efficient than ever.

But when you dig a little deeper into the Cavaliers' early-season success, you can't help but notice the impact the backup point guard has on every game. No matter who he's playing, whether he's playing with a lead or coming back from behind, he leaves his mark on both ends of the floor.

The backup point guard's name was Ty Jerome, and his play completely changed the dynamics of the Cleveland Cavaliers as the team marched undefeated through the first 15 games of the NBA season.

Jerome is averaging 10.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals in just 17.5 minutes per game, while shooting 59 percent from the field and 54 percent from 3-point range. Almost all of those marks would match or exceed his career highs. He is averaging 22.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per 36 games.

It's completely unfair for a team that already employs Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell to bring in another guard with this level of impact off the bench.

Against the Chicago Bulls, trailing 76-85 with just over four minutes left in the third quarter, Kenny Atkinson threw out the entire team of Jerome, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Sam Merrill and Dean Wade. We expanded our bench lineup.

This group regained the lead with Jerome at the front. That ultimately led to a pivotal 24-7 run after reinserting Donovan Mitchell early in the fourth quarter.

It's easy to get carried away with Jerome's aggressive behavior. He shoots the ball incredibly efficiently from deep. He never speeds up when he puts the ball on the floor, always getting to his position at his own pace, and always seems to produce quality looks, both for himself and for his teammates. is. His extremely high basketball IQ is always on display.

An often overlooked part of his game is his work on the other side of the floor. Jerome is a strong defensive presence on one of the best defensive teams in the league. He'll never be the best athlete on the floor, but he always makes plays in the right position and at the right time, making it difficult for opposing ball handlers.

The Cavaliers have decided to rest Donovan Mitchell, likely in anticipation of a matchup with the Charlotte Hornets. boston celtics As we approach Tuesday night, who starts in his place? Ty Jerome.

Jerome responded by scoring a career-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting overall and 4-of-7 from 3-point range. He also had eight assists while committing just two turnovers in 32 minutes as the Cavaliers defeated the Hornets 128-114.

Jerome was sensational for the Cleveland Cavaliers this year after appearing in just two games in the 2023-2024 season due to a right ankle injury. While the “core four” of Mobley, Mitchell, Allen, and Garland and their production will ultimately determine how far the Cavaliers can go in the postseason, we're sure a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate shines every year. That's not a bad thing. The team they play on.

Ty Jerome may not be the Cavaliers' most notable player this season, but if they continue to do something special this season, he's definitely responsible for taking the Cavaliers to the next level. He will be one of the players.