The Most Improved Player Award is among the most captivating in the NBA.
When discussing this season’s finalists for the prize, Cade Cunningham and Dyson Daniels are the names that are usually mentioned. Yet, Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Ty Jerome is constantly forgotten.
While Jerome is now showcasing his skills, he earned it the hard way.
Ty Jerome’s Journey in the NBA
After playing three years at the University of Virginia, Jerome decided to forgo his final season and declare for the 2019 NBA Draft. In his final year, Jerome’s Virginia Cavaliers won the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship.
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Jerome as the 24th overall pick but traded his draft rights to the Boston Celtics, who then sent him to the Phoenix Suns.
The start of Jerome’s career was delayed. On Oct. 21, 2019, it was announced that he suffered a right ankle sprain that kept him sidelined indefinitely. On Nov. 26, 2019, he became available to play again but was assigned to the Suns G League affiliate, Northern Arizona Suns.
He spent most of his rookie season preparing in the G League. Due to that, he only played 31 games in the NBA and averaged a mere 3.3 points per game.
On Nov. 16, 2020, Jerome was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Chris Paul. However, just like his rookie year, he had to alternate between the NBA and G League.
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After playing nine games with the Oklahoma City Blue, he made his Thunder debut against the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 26, 2021.
During that win against the Hawks, Jerome logged nine points, five rebounds and seven assists. His seven assists were the most in a debut in Thunder history. Jerome finished the season with averages of 10.7 points and 3.6 assists per game.
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Another Major Setback
While Ty Jerome’s productivity level increased, the injury bug crawled back during the 2021-22 campaign.
On March 8, 2022, he underwent season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia, all while dealing with a hip injury. Due to the injuries, he averaged only 7.1 points and 2.3 assists in 48 games.
On Sept. 30, 2022, Jerome was sent to the Houston Rockets and was on the move again. However, he was waived the following day.
Still, Jerome was determined to play in the 2022-23 season. On Oct. 14, he signed a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors, allowing him to spend time playing for their G League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors.
In the 45 games he played in Golden State, he averaged 6.9 points and 3.0 assists per game.
A Second Chance
Despite coming off the worst season since his rookie year, Jerome kept going. On July 6, 2023, he signed a two-year contract with the Cavaliers.
Sadly, he injured his ankle after playing just two games. The injury resulted in another surgical procedure that kept him sidelined for the rest of the season.
It’s safe to say Jerome bounced back.
This year, he is averaging a career-high 11.9 points, 3.3 assists, and a career-high 1.2 steals per game. His most memorable game took place on Jan. 24 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Although the Cavaliers lost to the 76ers, Jerome recorded 33 points while connecting on all eight of his 3-point attempts. He became the first player in Cavaliers history to record eight 3-pointers without missing an attempt.
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With the season nearing an end, the race for Most Improved Player is getting tight. However, Ty Jerome has a chance to win it.
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