Jarrett Allen is quickly becoming everyone’s favorite Cavalier

Jarrett Allen may be everyone’s favorite member of the Cleveland Cavaliers

Jarrett Allen is a guy that the league nearly forgot about. He was buried by the New Jersey Nets as a disposable piece and was a throw-away-add on in the trade that netted them, James Harden. Many people in Cleveland thought the trade was odd since we had Andre Drummond. Drummond is now struggling to find minutes as a rotational guy, and Allen is seen by many as the second-best center in the Eastern Conference.

Ironically, Drummond is trying to fill Allen’s void on the Nets alongside other broken-down centers from the last generation, all while they just dumped James Harden for a player who may not be ready until the playoffs to make his debut.

Ironic.

Allen is a great player, and not just on one side of the boards. When his number is called upon, he can put up some great numbers scoring, it’s just that he’s not the central focus of the offense. Darius Garland is, then probably Evan Mobley and then Kevin Love. Yet, that’s due to options, not limitations. Allen is capable of being a big-time scoring option; it’s just that he does his best work in the paint and JB Bickerstaff loves to open up the perimeter.

Yet, it’s not his play or talent, or accolades that have fans vibing with him; it’s his everyman appeal.

Jarrett Allen is just a dude who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers

When Allen was told he was going to be a first-time All-Star despite missing out on the fan-voted starters, then on the reserved selections, and then finally on the first injury-replacement that went to LaMelo Ball, he finally got in on his fourth try.

Technically third, as no one expected him to be voted in over Joel Embiid.

This is a big deal, he’s 23-years-old and going to the All-Star game in just his first full year in Cleveland. You’d expect him to celebrate and get crazy right? Nope, he didn’t even bother pausing his game of Pokemon when he shook the hand of head coach of JB Bickerstaff.

He’d rather catch them all, apparently.

That’s a very every-man thing to do. When he went, some people roasted him for his choice of clothes, which were fine. They were everyday, casual wear clothes that anyone would probably wear on their day off. When asked about it, he laughed, asking if he should’ve worn $5 thousand worth of jewelry to a game instead.

The man has his priorities in order. So much so that the Cavs teammates gave him grief and wouldn’t let him join the team chat…because he didn’t have an iPhone.

Allen is a likable dude, maybe the most likable player the Cavaliers have had ever. He seems genuine and down to Earth, and fans like their teams to have guys they can relate with. Maybe Allen won’t ever truly be the most popular Cavalier in the history of the franchise, but he sure has a case for the most relatable.