De’Andre Hunter impressed Atkinson, a teammate in his season debut

Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter made his 2025-26 season debut Sunday night in the home opener of wine and gold, and immediately, The Cavs took notice.

“Just his size,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson he said after a 118-113 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. “You look at our offense, I don’t know how many he had, but our offense (snaps), we were just a physical team. If he doesn’t play, are you going to win that game? That’s probably up in the air. He was huge, I thought.”

To answer Atkinson’s question, Hunter grabbed four boardsand only one came to attack; it does not indicate its true effect on the glass. Hunter was in the mix whenever he shot up, putting his body on someone or jumping up to disrupt opposing rebounds. That’s something Cleveland is challenging him to do better this year.

Hunter scored 16 points and dished out a few assists in his 27 minutes of action. He had his game off the dribble with a couple of mid-range pull-ups from his right elbow and got close to the basket. Hunter also hit a 3-pointer at the top of the perimeter on a pass from Donovan Mitchell in a key moment to start the fourth quarter.

“That was effective for him, and then finding his spots,” Mitchell said. “Obviously there were certain shots he turned down, we wish he hadn’t. But the fact that he continued to be aggressive, to get rebounds on offense, to be a pest on the defensive end, to be able to switch 1-5 at the end. That’s what gets us.”

“Just another offensive option,” added Evan Mobley. “Defensively, to have a big guy like that out there, especially against Giannis (Antetokounmpo) and the team we played (Sunday). So he’s definitely a different look out there.”

A look at De’Andre Hunter’s practice after Thursday’s practice in New York with Kenny Atkinson’s hand.

All from #Cavs the coaching staff gave him side and base losses and made it a fun game.

Hunter (knee) is questionable for tonight’s game against the Bucks. pic.twitter.com/eVc5sI97Ie

— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) October 26, 2025

Hunter hasn’t been afraid to be aggressive with pressure on the ball, an area the Cavs intend to strengthen even with the early season foul trouble they’ve encountered.

It was a solid night at the office for Cleveland’s new everyday starting small forward, who carried his preseason momentum into his first game of the year. Things it may have been delayed for a few gamesbut now Atkinson and Co. they have their big wing back.