Donovan Mitchell reveals the perfect message he gave the Rising Star

Participating in his first NBA All-Star Weekend, Jaylon Tyson was at the free throw line during the Rising Stars game when his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Donovan Mitchell literally announced his presence, shouting at him as he made his way to the front row of the Cripto.com Arena. Trying to concentrate on filming, the 23-year-old refocused after laughing and knocked it down.

“I was trying to win the MVP. I’m not going to lie. I was trying to win it,” Tyson recalled at practice last week. “He’s there too, yelling something. But I made it.”

Unfortunately, Team T-Mac led by Tyson Tracy McGrady didn’t get a chance to reach the title game; that doesn’t mean Tyson isn’t bring your true self. He finished leading his team with 10 points and five rebounds in 11 minutes.

“The game, I wasn’t that happy because it only lasted five minutes and then we had to come off the field,” Tyson said. “I so wanted to keep playing the full game.”

Tyson dished out two assists, one of which was a highlight on a hookup with Miami Heat big man Kel’el Ware in the alley as he turned the corner. Having missed out on the opportunity as a rookie, he treated it as a chance to show what he’s capable of with all eyes on the league’s biggest weekend.

“He plays one way,” Mitchell said. “He’s playing hard. He’s full court. He’s doing all the things. I wish he had some help out there. He was rebounding. He was passing. He was doing everything.”

“It was cool sharing the court with those guys. In the back of my mind I know I’m better than a lot of those guys, if not all of them,” Tyson added. “I just want to go out there and prove it every day and then hopefully one day be an All-Star.”

Unlike many of the talents who stayed over the weekend in Los Angeles, Tyson went home after Friday to recover and prepare for the second half of the season. Mitchell was impressed with his professionalism in officiating his first All-Star Weekend. He also ensured that the presence of the bright young forward was still felt when it came to the 3-point contest.

Mitchell wore Tyson’s number 20 with his name on the back as he shot, just like he did with Sam Merrill’s uniform a few years back.

“That was great,” the Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson he said. “They have such a great relationship. Donovan embraced Jaylon from day one. He first looked at him and said, ‘This kid has a crazy work ethic.’ He reminds me a lot of Donovan. So I think he’s a big part of Jailon’s development. It really helps when your best player goes all-in on developing a young player. I thought it was a cool gesture.

Although Tyson joked that his jersey was “a little too big” for Mitchell, he felt the love from his teammate, and that’s nothing new.

“He’s one of those guys that I’m going to keep in touch with throughout my career and beyond,” Tyson said. “I’m super grateful to have him. Honestly, I feel like I give him a lot of credit for the year I’m having. I go back to that text message; I don’t think people understand how much that message meant to me and how much confidence it gave me. So I give him a lot of credit for all my success.”

Tyson is referring to when Mitchell contacted him during the offseason about me “needing” him and his confidence that he would step into a bigger role. Mitchell admitted he didn’t see the kind of year the sophomore swingman had, averaging 13.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.4 minutes per game with the league’s third-best three-point percentage (45.6%) and top 20 field goal percentage (0%).

It helps to have a shoulder to lean on when things take a different turn, and that was the subject of a heart-to-heart when the two flew to LA together before the festivities kicked off in mid-February.

“I thought, ‘Hey, it might not be a 40-point night for you. It might not be a 30-point night. It might not be a start, it might not be this,'” Mitchell said. “I told him, ‘Man, you’ve already shown that you’re capable. ‘You’ve already shown enough (than) more guys have done in their careers, and you’ve shown this in a little over half a year.”

“So for him to adjust to his role and be OK with that is definitely impressive for a second-year guy. We’re going to be on him, and he’s going to have to continue to earn everything he’s doing. He’s not given anything, but he’s doing a good job. We’ve got to keep going.”

Jaylon Tyson, the Cavs directive and the reality of the NBA

Since Cleveland overhauled its roster with the acquisitions of James Harden, Dennis Schroeder and Keon Ellis, the younger players have seen changes in responsibilities and reduced playing time. The veterans jumped on them because of their experience and the need to get used to the new group. As a result, players who were lauded for their readiness during the season were dropped.

Craig Porter Jr. and Nae’Quan Tomlin, for example, have been dropped from the current rotation. Tyson is still in the everyday lineup, but not in the same style.

“Defend, rebound, limit mistakes, shoot. That’s what it is,” Atkinson said. “Your package shrinks in situations like this, and he understands that, and he’s been great. I think he’s had so much time; he’s kind of gotten into the rotation, right? But now that we’re moving forward and looking at the playoffs, that’s the role we’re looking at.”

“When everyone comes back, once we’re fully healthy, it’s going to be a big sacrifice that’s going to have to happen,” Tyson added. “Whatever it looks like, obviously, the roles will change. But just accepting that role and doing something bigger than any of us.”

Before Cleveland hosted the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Atkinson was surprisingly tough on Tyson, who played back-to-back games with less than 17 minutes left. It was his lowest total since late October.

Asked how he can get back to his usual amount of burn, Atkinson said Tyson and the guys have to earn it because of the small window for Cleveland to put the pieces in place before the postseason.

“He’s going to play himself. It’s definitely a change for him,” Atkinson said. “I understand that, as a young player, it’s not easy. You go from 39 points a couple of weeks ago to ‘My minutes are down a little bit.’

Tyson answers the call

Later that night, Atkinson praised Tyson for excelling at what was asked of him, especially guarding Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

“That was kind of the plan right there,” Atkinson said. “Offensively, played short, hit three catch-and-shoots, limited his mistakes and then played pretty darn good defense. We put him on the KAT there, and he’s big and strong enough to defend him and pressure him and bother him.

“Behind Dean, can he be that perimeter stopper? He’s shown he can. He’s played really well all year. As young players, (they) can probably make a few more mistakes than a vet like Dean, but if he wants big minutes in the playoffs, that’s going to be it. Can you be our assignment defender? That’s a really big number of players that’s obvious, a good number of players are positive, good size on defense. The growth is really, ‘Cut the mistakes and be tougher. (with) game plan stuff.

Tyson finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists, recording a steal and a block each, committing just one turnover. Mitchell was encouraged by Tyson’s performance during the game.

“Look at how the five is tonight, how he’s playing the pick-and-roll,” Mitchell said. “Give it to him, he’s got composure, he’s got float, he makes decisions. That’s what we’re going to need from him. That’s his bread and butter.”

Sympathizing with how he feels, Atkinson believes Tyson is handling the transition well.

“I don’t think it’s easy for anybody, but he’s an extremely mature guy,” Atkinson said. “He understands that. He’s got great support from the veterans, not only the coaches, but the vets who are explaining to him what this looks like, and we have those discussions as a team. And it’s not just Jaylon, right? It’s other players. It’s Keon. It’s Dennis. It’s just part of this situation when you have a lot of good players on your roster.”

Who knows how Harden’s broken right thumb will affect his role? He’s not likely to be ready for 35 minutes a night like he did Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks, for example, since Mitchell and Evan Mobley also missed that game. Max Struss seems to be on the right track to return at some point.

With Mitchell dealing with a nagging groin, Ellis with a broken left index finger, Schroder with a sprained left ankle and Dean Wade with an injured right ankle, Tyson will have to return to his pre-trade duties. It’s a constant push and pull.

But whatever is asked of him, Tyson will keep his head down and do whatever he’s told to help the Cavs get wins.

“I feel like it’s just part of the NBA,” Tyson added. “Unless you’re a superstar, your role is going to change, and I feel like the best players adapt to that. That’s one thing I have to learn to do. I’m okay with that, because obviously, I just want to win. James is here, he wants to win.”

“I want to be a part of helping him win that and get that ring; the city of Cleveland, Donovan, everybody. I want to be a part of helping them.”