CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 10: De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 10, 2025 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
This Cavs tandem isn’t worried about who wins Sixth Man of the Year they’re focused on winning their second championship together..
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The bond between Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter was formed long before they shared an NBA locker room. It began on the grounds of the University of Virginia, where in 2017, a young Hunter arrived as a freshman, unknowingly stepping into a partnership that would shape both of their careers.
Two years later, with a national championship hanging in the balance, that connection was solidified. Down three points with 22.5 seconds remaining against Texas Tech, Jerome sprinted toward the rim, drawing in defenders before instinctively kicking the ball to Hunter, wide open in the corner. Without hesitation, Hunter let it fly. The shot splashed through, sending the game to overtime and leading to them etching their names in Virginia men’s basketball history as national champions.
Fast forward six years and the stakes have only grown.
Both players are experiencing career-best seasons, garnering whispers of Sixth Man of the Year consideration. Yet, individual accolades are far from their focus.
Reunited in Cleveland after the Cavs acquired Hunter at the trade deadline, the mission remains the same as it was in college: winning at the highest level.
“Truthfully we haven’t talked about it one bit,” Jerome said when asked about their Sixth Man of the Year prospects. “I’m not bs’ing, the only thing we talk about is winning.”
