Cavaliers' Tyson dismisses any ill will toward LeBron after comments

Jaylon Tyson says his post-game joke about LeBron James was all in good fun.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 10:39pm

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After the Cleveland Cavaliers' recent win, Jaylon Tyson joked about Donovan Mitchell now being the face of the franchise, which was seen as a slight dig at LeBron James' legacy with the team. However, Tyson has clarified that there was no disrespect intended, as he remains a big fan of James and credits the NBA legend for laying the foundation for the current Cavaliers roster.

Why it matters

LeBron James is still revered in Cleveland for bringing the city its first NBA championship in 2016, despite a brief departure from 2010-2014. Tyson's comments could have been seen as undermining James' lasting impact, but the player has moved quickly to squash any notion of ill will toward the Cavaliers icon.

The details

In a post-game interview, Tyson joked that the city of Cleveland now belongs to Donovan Mitchell, which was interpreted by some as a slight toward James. However, Tyson has clarified that he has immense respect for James and was simply making a lighthearted comment, not intending any disrespect. Tyson grew up as a Cavaliers fan because of James and credits the NBA legend for setting the tone for the current roster's success.

  • The Cavaliers defeated an opponent on Wednesday, January 29, 2026.
  • Tyson made his comments during the post-game media availability on January 29, 2026.

The players

Jaylon Tyson

A player for the Cleveland Cavaliers who joked about Donovan Mitchell being the new face of the franchise, which was interpreted as a slight toward LeBron James.

LeBron James

An NBA legend who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003 to 2010 and then again from 2014 to 2018, winning the city its first championship in 2016.

Donovan Mitchell

The current star player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who Tyson joked is now the face of the franchise.

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What they’re saying

“There was no disrespect there. Bron is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. I was a Cavs fan growing up because of him. If I offended anyone, I'm sorry. I take personal responsibility. We want to do the same thing Bron did.”

— Jaylon Tyson, Cavaliers player

The takeaway

This incident highlights the enduring legacy of LeBron James in Cleveland, even years after his last stint with the Cavaliers. While the current players like Tyson and Mitchell are building their own legacies, they remain cognizant of the foundation laid by James and are committed to continuing the team's success.