Ty Jerome is the undefeated hero of the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers

When a team, in any sport, has an extended stretch of consecutive winning games, the focus is usually on the star players and head coach of said team.

That’s how it has been for now 15-0 Cleveland Cavaliersand with good reason.

New head coach Kenny Atkinson is off to the best start in franchise history by far. Darius Garland makes a strong case for his second All-Star appearance and has been the best closer in the NBA so far this season. Donovan Mitchell is still the same dangerous scorer he’s always been, although he hasn’t had to do nearly as much heavy lifting this season as he has in previous seasons. Evan Mobley is finally becoming the kind of player everyone believed he could be, and Jarrett Allen has been braver, tougher and more effective than ever.

When you dig a little deeper into the Cavaliers’ early season success, however, you can’t help but notice the impact their backup point guard has on every game. It doesn’t matter who they’re playing, whether they’re playing with a lead or in the middle of fighting back from a deficit, he leaves his mark on both ends of the floor.

That backup point guard is named Ty Jerome, and he has completely changed the dynamic of the Cleveland Cavaliers with his play throughout the team’s undefeated march through the first 15 games of their NBA season.

In just 17.5 minutes per game, Jerome is averaging 10.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting a whopping 59 percent from the field and 54 percent from three-point range. Almost all of those marks would match or surpass his career high. Per 36, he is averaging 22.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.5 steals.

It’s completely unfair for a team that already employs Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell to bring in another guard off the bench capable of having this impact.

Against the Chicago Bulls, while trailing 76-85 with just over four minutes left in the third quarter, Kenny Atkinson deployed an all-bench lineup of Jerome, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Sam Merrill and Dean Wade.

This group, led by Jerome, would go on to regain the lead. That ultimately led to what became a decisive 24-7 run after Donovan Mitchell’s punt return early in the fourth quarter.

It’s easy to get crazy about what Jerome does offensively. He shoots the ball from deep with insane efficiency. When he puts the ball on the floor, he’s never rushed, getting to his spots at his own pace at all times and seemingly always generating a high-quality look, whether it’s for himself or his teammates. His soaring basketball IQ is on constant display.

What’s easy to overlook about his play is the work on the other side of the floor. Jerome has been an equally solid presence defensively for one of the best defensive teams in the league. He will never be the best athlete on the floor, but he is always in the right position at the right time and makes life difficult for opponents.

The Cavaliers decided to rest Donovan Mitchell against the Charlotte Hornets, possibly with an eye on their matchup against Boston Celtics looming Tuesday night, and who did they start in his place? Shut up Jerome.

Jerome responded by posting a career-high 24 points on 9-for-15 shooting overall and 4-for-7 from three-point range. He also dished out eight assists while committing just two turnovers in his 32 minutes as the Cavaliers went on to route the Hornets 128-114.

After appearing in just two games in the 2023-2024 season due to a right ankle injury, Jerome has been sensational for the Cleveland Cavaliers this year. The “Core Four” of Mobley, Mitchell, Allen and Garland and their production will ultimately determine how far the Cavs can go in the postseason, but it certainly won’t hurt to have a legitimate 6th Man of the Year candidate lighting up every team they play.

Ty Jerome may not be the most notable player on the Cavaliers this season, but if they continue to do some special things this season, he will undoubtedly be one of the guys responsible for pushing them to the next level.