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Some players are quick to leave the locker room following a road loss.
The sooner you can get on the bus, the sooner you can leave the forgettable night in the rearview mirror. And it was certainly one of those nights recently for Cleveland, which suffered a 134-114 loss to OKC in front of a packed Paycom Center crowd and everyone else who watched the game on national television.
But one of the last players to leave was Ty Jerome, who spent two seasons with the Thunder from 2020-22.
Much like his play style on the court, the 27-year-old guard operated at his own pace. He chatted with some teammates. He checked his phone. He thanked the staff for packing up his uniform and sneakers. And, when asked if he had time for an interview, he happily responded with, “I got you, bro.”
“I’ve always naturally been a poised person on and off the court,” Jerome told The Oklahoman. “You have nights like this where you get absolutely cooked, and you have nights when you win these big games. You’ve got to stay level-headed in both circumstances.”
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Ty Jerome finds NBA home after winding journey
Jerome has practiced that even-keeled approach throughout his NBA career. He’s played for four teams in six seasons, most of which have been plagued by injuries.
But Jerome calmly cleared every hurdle and is now hitting his stride with Cleveland. He’s averaging 10.4 points and 3.3 assists this season on 42.3% shooting from deep, making him a key contributor on a team with the best record in the league.
“It’s cool,” Jerome said with his usual laid-back delivery when asked about his breakout season. “Truthfully, my mindset has just been to focus on the work. … It’s really about focusing on the work and continuing to get better individually.”
Jerome’s nomadic NBA career began on draft night.
Philadelphia selected the Virginia alum with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but he was traded to Boston along with the No. 33 overall pick (Carsen Edwards) in exchange for the draft rights to Matisse Thybulle. Boston then traded Jerome and Aron Baynes to Phoenix in exchange for a protected 2020 first-round pick.
Then came the injury woes. Jerome sprained his right ankle during practice on Oct. 21, 2019, just two days before the start of his rookie season. He missed nearly six weeks as a result.
Jerome finished his campaign with modest averages of 3.3 points and 1.4 assists in 10.6 minutes. He then was traded to OKC in a deal where Phoenix landed Chris Paul and Abdel Nader.
Jerome was sent to the Thunder along with Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick. But he was the only one who ultimately stuck with OKC, which shuffled its roster by making 10 trades in only eight days.
“At first, I think (getting traded) is always going to be a little shock,” Jerome said during his first media availability with OKC on Dec. 5, 2020. “When you find out you got moved to a different city, joining a different organization, it’s just a little shock at first. So that was my first reaction.”
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After Thunder-Suns trade, injuries derailed Ty Jerome
Jerome was expected to contribute right away for the rebuilding Thunder, which had plenty of young players and a first-year head coach in Mark Daigneault. But he was hindered once again by injuries.
In the first hour of the first day of practice in Thunder training camp, Jerome’s legs got caught underneath a teammate who dove on the floor for a loose ball. He suffered a high left ankle sprain and missed OKC’s first 32 games of the 2020-21 season.
Once he returned, Jerome made up for lost time with his strong play. He averaged 10.7 points and 3.6 assists in 23.9 minutes, and he shot 42.3% from deep on an OKC team that ranked 29th in the league in that department (33.8%).
The change of scenery did wonders for Jerome, who says OKC’s structure played a large role in his success.
“You learn how to be a pro here,” Jerome said. “You learn to always get your lifts in. You learn how to always be on the treatment table. You learn how to get your court time in. You kind of become robotic, in a good way, when you’re here. That’s something that I didn’t know how to do yet when I got here.”
Jerome spent the next season with OKC. But minutes were hard to find on a team that added three guards via the 2021 NBA Draft: Josh Giddey, Aaron Wiggins and Tre Mann.
It didn’t help that he went through a shooting slump either. Jerome’s numbers dropped to 7.1 points and 2.3 assists in 16.7 minutes per game, and he only shot 29% from deep.
So when the Thunder added another four rookies via the 2022 NBA Draft, he became a casualty of a lack of roster spots. OKC included Jerome in an eight-player trade to Houston on Sept. 29, 2022, and he was waived two days later.
Jerome then spent the 2022-23 season with Golden State. That’s where he met Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson, who was on the Warriors’ staff as an assistant coach.
The two instantly bonded over their similar backgrounds. Jerome is a New York kid who played his high school ball in New Rochelle, less than 50 miles away from Atkinson’s hometown of Northport.
“You know how New Yorkers act,” Jerome said with a smile. “You know how tough we are and how competitive we are. That stood out right away with him. He was awesome.”
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Jerome averaged 6.9 points and three assists in 18.1 minutes during his lone season with Golden State.
He then signed a two-year, $5 million deal with Cleveland on July 1, 2023. But, just like his time with Phoenix and OKC, he faced an early setback.
Jerome sustained a right ankle injury just two games into last season. And while the team initially thought he wouldn’t need surgery, Jerome was still unable to run after three months of rehabilitation.
So Jerome underwent arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 23, 2024, to remove bone spurs and reshape the surface of his ankle. That sidelined him for the rest of the season.
It was yet another tough break for Jerome, but he continued to show composure in the face of adversity.
“It was a long journey,” Jerome said. “But like anything else in life, you take it one day at a time and you just keep plugging away.”
One person who helped was Atkinson, who got hired as Cleveland’s head coach just five days after Jerome’s surgery.
“I think with him, his development piece was improving his body and improving his performance habits,” Atkinson said. “When I was with him at Golden State, I said, ‘Ty, you know how to play basketball. Get stronger. Get more mobile, more agile. And then get off the court and get in the weight room.’
“I think the injury kind of woke him up. That was a pretty bad injury, and he has just flipped it. Now, he’ll spend more time doing mobility work or core work or weight room work, and a little less on the court.”
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That work is paying off this season. Jerome has played in all but three of Cleveland’s games, and his production off the bench has been invaluable.
He brings a calming presence, to no surprise. He doesn’t get sped up. He makes the right passes. He knocks down his shots. He plays good team defense. He does everything you’d want from a role player.
“He’s gotten a great opportunity there,” OKC head coach Mark Daigneault said. “They’ve found a nice role for him on this team. … I’m happy for anybody who starts here or passes through here and goes on to have success. He’s no different.”
Jerome is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He’s making about $2.5 million this season, and he’s surely due for a larger deal.
It’ll be a well-deserved payday. After years of setbacks and getting thrown into trades, Jerome has established himself as one of the league’s best backup guards.
It’s been a long journey, and he has navigated it at his own pace.
“You continue to learn it the more you’re in the league because you just don’t really have a choice,” Jerome said of his composure. “You just handle what’s in front of you.”
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After being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Ty Jerome has found his sweet spot with his new team. The former Thunder guard has quickly made an impact with the Cavaliers, showcasing his sharpshooting skills and basketball IQ on the court.
Jerome, who was a first-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, struggled to find consistent playing time with the Thunder. However, since joining the Cavaliers, he has been given the opportunity to showcase his talents and has made the most of it.
In a recent game against the Brooklyn Nets, Jerome scored a career-high 23 points, including five three-pointers. His performance helped lead the Cavaliers to a crucial victory and showcased his potential as a key contributor for the team.
Cavaliers fans have quickly taken notice of Jerome’s skills and have embraced him as a valuable member of the team. With his sweet shooting stroke and ability to make plays for his teammates, Jerome has become a fan favorite in Cleveland.
As Jerome continues to excel with the Cavaliers, it’s clear that he has found his sweet spot with his new team. With his confidence growing and his impact on the court increasing, the future looks bright for the young guard in Cleveland.
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Ex-Thunder guard, Ty Jerome, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, basketball, player, trade, team, performance, success, career, sports, athlete, acquisition, talent, skills, development, growth
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