Jaylon Tyson’s unconventional journey to the Cavs is why he believes in himself

Tyson is confident in himself because he knows what it took to get to this point.

Cleveland Cavaliers first-round pick Tyson answered some of the questions thrown his way with the confidence of a blue-chip prospect who was always going to make it to the NBA. He said his goal was to win The Finals and make an All-Defensive Team during his rookie season.

“If I do that, now you’re talking about every box being checked right there,” Tyson said.

Underneath that bravado was a sense of gratitude for being in that position. This seemingly wasn’t where he expected to be as recently as last year.

“Growing up, I was never the most talented, never the most athletic,” Tyson said. “I never made the middle school [team]. I got cut going into my tenth-grade year. I’ve been through a lot. Basketball has taken me through a journey.”

Part of that journey was three different colleges in as many years. He played just 55 minutes his freshman year at Texas before transferring to Texas Tech and then finally to Cal. Tyson found something at his final stop under former NBA player Mark Madsen.

“Honestly, I knew I had a breakout year coming,” Tyson said. “I always thought in the back of my mind that I was an NBA player. I had a lot of confidence in myself. I just knew I had to show it.”

He indeed broke out. Tyson put up 19.6 points and 3.5 assists per game during his final collegiate season. That was enough to get Cleveland’s front office interested.

“He put himself on the map this year to where you had to go see him,” Koby Altman, Cavs president of basketball operations, said. “Who is this kid that keeps putting up these numbers and turned Cal into a winner?”

Tyson further endeared himself by choosing to go through with his workout with the Cavs after aggravating his back on a cross-country flight.

“He couldn’t move when the workout started,” Mike Gansey, Cavs general manager said. “Steve Spiro, our trainer was like, ‘Are you sure you want to go?’ He was like, ‘No, I want to go.’ His mental toughness and fight to play through things obviously showed, but he just did everything in the workout. He got every rebound. He’s making every play. He was defending. It was a high-level workout.”

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it,” said Tyson. “But I know me and I know my mentality. I’m a killer. And there was nothing gonna stop me You were gonna have to cut off my legs.”

The Cavs are hoping that workout is indicative of the type of professional Tyson will be. One that’s willing to do whatever he can to help the team win regardless of the role. What is clear, is that Tyson believes that he can do the job. The path that brought him to this point seems to be proof enough for him.

“I’m not a generational talent,” Tyson said. “But the one thing I have that no one else has is the love for the game and the will to win. And I feel as though that’s the separator for me. That’s due to my journey.

“A lot of people didn’t get to go from the bottom to the top, back to the bottom. I’ve been through that. I understand what it’s like to be at the top and understand what it feels like to hit the bottom. I honestly think that’s why I’m here.”