Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert: Ty Jerome Is The Real Sixth Man Of Year

Gilbert made that opinion known on social media after it was announced that Boston Celtics’ guard Payton Pritchard won the award — and Cavs guard Ty Jerome did not. Jerome actually finished third in the voting, behind Pritchard and Detroit Pistons wing Malik Beasley.

“Anybody who watched @cavs basketball this season knows Ty Jerome is the Sixth Man of the Year,” Gilbert wrote on X. “Grateful for everything you bring to this team, @tyjerome. Keep balling. Cleveland loves you!”

Pritchard received 82 first-place votes and 454 total points, winning the award thanks to his 14.3 points and high-volume shooting over 80 games.

Impressive numbers, no doubt –including an NBA record 246 threes off the bench. But Jerome? He was the engine behind one of the league’s best second units and Cleveland’s climb to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Jerome, 27, played just two games last season after ankle surgery. This year, he returned to average 12.5 points on a ridiculous 51.6% shooting overall, 43.9% from deep, and 87.2% from the stripe — all in less than 20 minutes per game. He didn’t rack up empty calories. He just helped the Cavs win. A lot.

In a world obsessed with minutes and totals, Jerome quietly became the Cavaliers’ X-factor — efficient, poised, unshaken. And let’s not forget: Cleveland finished with a better record than Pritchard’s Celtics and Detroit’s Malik Beasley (who finished second).

Beasley, by the way, played all 82 games and scored more (16.3 ppg), but efficiency and impact? Jerome had both.

Call it a snub if you want. Cleveland fans certainly will. But there’s no denying Jerome’s rise was one of the stories of the season — trophy or not.

Along with Jerome, Cavs forward De’Andre Hunter , who began the season with the Atlanta Hawks, finished fourth with 33 points. Hunter received two first-place votes.

The Cavs won a 1-0 series lead over the Miami Heat. Game 2 is Wednesday night at Rocket Arena.

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