Cleveland is sticking with De’Andre Hunter despite his struggles

Cleveland Cavaliers Head coach Kenny Atkinson cited the “psychology of the sport” as the reason for his team’s 123-112 home loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday night. That seems to be the only plausible explanation for the De’Andre Hunter’s baffling turnover during the 2025-26 season.

Beginning the campaign as an everyday starter, Hunter had his moments of success, but they were just that. As with the team, there were inconsistencies, whether it was shot distribution, defense or overall production. Atkinson sensed it, pulled him aside and talked him into moving him to the bench, a role Hunter agreed with and in which he had previously thrived. He was a Sixth Man of the Year candidate with the Atlanta Hawks and continued that success when he was traded to Cleveland at the NBA trade deadline.

When the Cavs changed their lineup, Hunter responded well in the first four games the week before Christmas, including a 27-point performance in a win over the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 22. Since then it has been mixed, and especially in the last two games the situation looks alarming.

On Monday night, Hunter played a season-low 18 minutes as part of the second unit, going 1 of 5 from the field for the second straight contest. He had three assists, but also three turnovers due to disagreements with teammates. The 28-year-old forward hasn’t been making shots, but he hasn’t been hitting as much lately. While the effort on the glass was evident, as was the box and physicality, it just didn’t look like the Hunter the Cavs traded for less than a year ago.

“It’s not clicking,” Atkinson told ClutchPoints in his postgame press conference. “Look, I think it’s an extended hitting slump, and it happens. It happens in every sport. Try to support him, give him some contact with ATOs; it’s just not working right now. But part of my job is to help him. He’s going to come out of it. He’s too good a player to play like this. We’re going to need him.”

Hunter is 8 of his last 31 from long range and is shooting a career-high 30.9% from below the arc on the season. He hasn’t shot worse than 35% since his second season with the Hawks.

ClutchPoints asked Atkinson if there was a sense of helplessness from Hunter’s perspective. He doesn’t see it that way.

“I know what the guys are doing. They’re going through this. They’re working,” Atkinson said. “He’s out extra after practice. He’s just more in the cage. I see it. He’s trying to get through this slump. He’s going to get through this slump. (He) has to see a couple go through; I think that would help. But we just have to support him, give him confidence until he breaks out.”

“He’s a hell of a player, Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell added. “He’s a guy we believe in and believe in every day. We see the work he puts into his body, his stroke, everything. And I think (when) you’re not necessarily taking shots, it can definitely seem like a lot. But we hold it in our hands. The biggest thing about it is (that) it doesn’t affect the mood, right? Like, he’s a guy who comes in every day with the same positive spirit, and that’s who you want around you, right?”

Hunter’s teammates are holding on to him until it comes out the other end. After all, this is a guy who made 42.6% of his threes last year when he joined the organization. In the postseason, he knocked down 46.2 percent of them. Hunter is a capable shooter and can put the ball in the bucket. It was just harder for him to find his footing for some reason.

“Just try to push him,” Allen said. “He’s an incredible shot creator. His mid-range, three-pointers; when it comes down, the team does a great job. And we’re going to continue to feed him. We’re going to try to get him out of this rut ​​and be the player he can be.”

“It’s tough,” Mitchell added. “You’re not always going to have great strides, but we continue to have his back, you know what I’m saying? And he’s a guy that keeps coming in positive, coming in and doing the little things that are needed to get out there. It’s not about not putting in the time. He’s doing it. It’s just a matter of, hey, he’s going to come.”

If Cleveland will find its consistent selfHunter will need to reveal his normal form.