It takes a village for last season’s third-worst NBA team to blossom into a bonafide contender in less than a year’s time. The Cleveland Cavaliers have benefitted from multiple individual breakout seasons, some of which have flown under the radar.
By now, you’ve heard about Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Two potential All-Stars and the leader in the Rookie of the Year race have Cleveland in a position for longevity.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have multiple hidden gems on their roster
Brewing under the surface is a Sixth Man of the Year candidate in Kevin Love, who is averaging 14.2 points on above 40 percent three-point shooting in just 21.6 minutes of playing time. His veteran leadership has kept the Cavs afloat throughout a challenging season.
Then, there are guys like Cedi Osman, who is having a career year from deep, as well as Ricky Rubio, who was a sturdy presence before suffering a season-ending injury.
However, three other role players have been consistently proving their worth. These hidden gems each have their own stories and have embraced their status as underdogs.
Today, we highlight the Cavaliers’ three hidden gems and take a look at how they’ve managed to succeed despite numerous obstacles in their way.
*Stats valid as of January 28