The Cleveland Charge have had a successful season by any measure. They’ve had multiple call-ups and have improved drastically in the standings as they enter the playoffs as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 23-13 record after not making the postseason last season.
Those improvements have come with individual accolades. First, Cleveland Cavaliers two-way player Tristan Enaruna has been named the G League’s Most Improved Player. Second, Charge general manager Liron Fanan has been named G League Basketball Executive of the Year.
Enaruna came into the season not on a two-way deal, but earned his way into that spot thanks in large part to his improvement as an outside shooter. Last season, he was a 29.2% outside shooter. This season, he’s converted 37.2% of his outside looks. This has allowed him to average 20.3 points per game, which is nine more points than he averaged last year.
“This award is a huge testament to the daily work Tristan puts in, how intentional he’s been with his development, and the growing confidence he continues to play with,” head coach Eli Kell-Abrams said in a statement released by the team. “We could not be happier for T and we are excited for him to continue to grow during a long and successful career in this game.”
Fanan has done a great job of identifying talent. She’s overseen six callups this season, including three with the Cavs. Additionally, Fanan has put together a good team that competes every night, no matter who’s in and out of the lineup. That’s incredibly difficult to do given how fast things change in the G League.
“Liron’s leadership and tireless work ethic have been instrumental in building the Cleveland Charge roster and establishing a strong development culture across our basketball ecosystem,” Koby Altman, Cavs’ President of Basketball Operations, said in a statement released by the team. “This recognition is well deserved, and we’re incredibly proud of her — not only for this achievement, but also for becoming the first woman to be named NBA G League Basketball Executive of the Year.”
The Charge start their playoff pursuit on Wednesday. They host the Capital City Go-Go in the first round of the G League playoffs at 7:30 PM. The first three rounds of the playoffs are single elimination, while the Finals are a best-of-three series.
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