Kenny Atkinson Explains Why Jaylon Tyson Calls About His Cavaliers Role

Jaylon Tyson calls Kenny Atkinson when he wants to hear his role again, the Cleveland Cavaliers coach said after Friday's practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, Ohio.

Tyson, 23, is entering his third season. His 39 points at Philadelphia on Jan. 16 set a career high, and he played in the Rising Stars game at All-Star weekend in February.

He averaged 13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists last season and shot 44.6% from 3-point range. He started 42 of his 66 games and earns $3,658,560 this season in the third year of his rookie-scale deal.

His minutes dropped in the spring. Tyson averaged 26.9 minutes across 66 regular-season games and 12.7 minutes across 17 playoff appearances, all off the bench, as Atkinson shortened his playoff rotation.

Atkinson said Tyson sometimes wants to be reassured after he is told something.

"I think it's weird, it's almost like a two-way street with him," Atkinson said. "He is not afraid to pick up the phone and call me. He'll call me, yeah. So we have that kind of relationship. And sometimes you tell Jaylon something, but he wants to be assured, like, 'Hey, what's my role?' He'll just call up, like, 'Hey, how you doing? Tell me again my role next year. What do you want from me next year?'"

"I think sometimes a young player needs reassurance," Atkinson continued. "And then we talk about life stuff. I love the guy. I have a great relationship with him, definitely. We're building that more. Like I said, I think he needs that and wants that. I'm there for him."

Atkinson has coached Tyson since the start.

Cleveland agreed to hire Atkinson on June 24, 2024, two days before it drafted Tyson 20th overall out of California. The Cavaliers went 64-18 in Atkinson's first season and 52-30 in his second.

Tyson spent his college career at three schools, Texas, Texas Tech, and California, and made the All-Pac-12 first team in 2023-24.

He grew up in Plano, Texas. His younger brother, Jordyn, a receiver from Arizona State, was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in April.

As a rookie, Tyson appeared in 47 games and averaged 3.6 points in 9.6 minutes. He played eight games for the Cleveland Charge, the team's G League affiliate, and averaged 18.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists there.

On April 13, 2025, he scored 31 points against Indiana.

Cleveland exercised his third-year option in October 2025.

Early in their relationship, the clips Atkinson sent Tyson leaned toward corrections.

"I think where I probably changed a little, definitely err on the side of just more positive, because he wants to be perfect," Atkinson explained. "He's almost nervous about, or has anxiety about, being too perfect. So I think our communication has changed more, like, focusing on the positive a lot more. But maybe early on in our relationship, it's like, 'Hey, why didn't you pull over? Why weren't you there being a low man on this one?' Or send him a clip, maybe more on, like, 'Hey, you could do this better.'"

"And I'm just realizing that with him, teach with the positive," Atkinson continued. "You go too far negative, he's going to start doubting. We don't want him to doubt."

Donovan Mitchell, speaking at the same session, said Tyson has started holding teammates accountable in practice.

Tyson led Cleveland with 14 points in the preseason opener, a 124-113 loss to the Boston Celtics on Oct. 8. The Cavaliers went 1-2 in three exhibition games.

The team holds a $5,641,500 option on Tyson for 2027-28. Cleveland has until Oct. 31 to exercise it.

If it does, Tyson would be eligible for restricted free agency after that season.

The Cavaliers open the regular season Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Philadelphia 76ers at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

They host the Brooklyn Nets in their home opener Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Rocket Arena.