Isaac Okoro playing his role for Cavs

INDEPENDENCE — Isaac Okoro might be the most underappreciated player on the team. Not to the coaching staff, mind you, or knowledgeable fans, they realize how important he is to the Cavaliers' success. To many fans, however, they expect the fourth-year swingman to score more points. Okoro, 22, is known as the team's defensive stopper. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff went so far as to liken him to a Darrelle Revis or Deion Sanders-type defender. He's been supplanted by newcomer Max Strus as the starting small forward this year. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Okoro is one of the first players off the bench. He guards the opposing team's top offensive threat, although he doesn't think he's on an island by himself. "I know I have Jarrett (Allen) and Evan (Mobley) behind me to help me out if I make a mistake," he said. "I take pride in my defense. I know that's the reason I'm out there. "(My job is) to lock them up and slow them down as much as I can." Okoro, the fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft from Auburn, likely had his best game of the season in the Cavs' 110-101 hard-fought victory over Detroit on Saturday with nine points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals in 33 minutes. "He was unbelievable down the stretch," Bickerstaff said. "He was taking charges, making shots, driving to the basket and scoring. He was awesome when we needed him to be, and that's who he is." In 11 games, he's averaging 7.5 points, a career-high 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists. He's shooting .500 from the field and .381 from the 3-point line, both career highs. Okoro, forward Georges Niang and swingman Caris LeVert (currently injured with a sore knee) form the Cavs' bench group. "We have guys who can shoot, rebound and play fast," Okoro said. "I feel our bench unit brings a lot of versatility. "We want to feed off our starters. If the starters are off to a great start, you want your bench to come in and (keep the) lead and have that pace. (The team) got better in the shooting aspect." A sore knee caused him to miss nine games earlier in the season. "It's good," Okoro said. "There's no concern." He's been lethal on the fastbreak this season for the Cavs (11-9). "I try to rebound more this year and try to push the ball more (on the break)," Okoro said. "I'm not trying to leak out." The Cavs failed to reach an agreement with Okoro's agent on a contract extension last summer. He will be a restricted free agent in July. Contact Bob Finnan at (440) 329-7135 or rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.