CLEVELAND, Ohio — When Jarrett Allen walked off the court after the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 130-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, he had done more than just set a new career-high with 40 points.
According to the Wine and Gold Talk Podcast, he had completely altered how the Cavs — and perhaps the rest of the NBA — will view him moving forward.
“It’s arguably, if not unequivocally, Jarrett Allen’s best game in the NBA,” said podcast host Ethan Sands. “He’s the first player in NBA history with [at least] 40 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in under 30 minutes.”
The numbers are staggering: 40 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals in just 29 minutes of play. But beyond the eye-popping stat line, it was the manner in which Allen dominated that left the podcast hosts marveling at his evolution as a player.
Cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins provided a detailed breakdown of Allen’s transformed offensive repertoire: “The most impressive part for me was that tonight is a reminder of once he got going, just how far Jarrett Allen has come as an offensive player. It’s not just rolls to the rim and dunks. It’s really soft jump hooks with either hand around the rim. It’s really, really patient footwork, really sophisticated pivots over either shoulder.”
This evolution represents a dramatic shift from Allen’s reputation as merely a rim-running, lob-catching big man. While those skills alone would have secured him a place and a paycheck in the modern NBA, Allen has clearly been working to expand his game — and the results were on full display against Portland.
What makes this performance potentially transformative for the Cavaliers is how it’s already reshaping the coaching staff’s thinking.
“He reminded me of Hakeem [Olajuwon] out there,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said of Allen. “...I think the vision was kind of strict rim roller, pick and roll guy, rim defender, just kind of in that bucket. Listen, he’s more skilled than I even think he is. Does that make sense? Like, sometimes I put him in a box. I gotta maybe think a little differently how we use him because that was a revelation tonight.”
This admission from Atkinson is striking, especially considering his history with Allen. As mentioned on the podcast, Atkinson coached Allen during their time with the Brooklyn Nets and has long been one of his biggest believers, once suggesting Allen could eventually have his jersey retired in Brooklyn.
The timing of Allen’s breakout couldn’t be more critical for Cleveland. With Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Max Strus all sidelined with injuries, the Cavaliers need alternative offensive options to complement Donovan Mitchell. If Allen can consistently provide even a fraction of the offensive production he delivered against Portland, it dramatically changes the calculus for opposing defenses.
The podcast emphasized that while this specific 40-point, 17-rebound performance might be an outlier, Allen’s improved offensive arsenal is very real and sustainable. As Watkins noted, “25 and 12 is not outlandish for Jarrett Allen on any given night.”
Allen himself was quick to credit his teammates after the game, showing his understanding of his role within the team concept.
“I can’t do it without the teammates,” Allen said. “They fed me every single time. I’m not a guy that creates for myself.”
And the Cavs seem to be trending to keeping Allen engaged on both ends of the floor by putting the ball in his hands offensively.
For fans eager to understand just how Allen’s evolution could reshape Cleveland’s championship aspirations, the full podcast episode provides a detailed breakdown of his historic performance and what it means for the team going forward. Listen now to get the complete analysis of Allen’s career night and why it might be the key to unlocking the Cavaliers’ full potential.
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