Cavaliers: Assistant coach Andrew Olson has been key to coach's challenges

CLEVELAND — So far in the 2025-26 season, one of the Cavaliers' unsung heroes has been little-known assistant coach Andrew Olson. In Cleveland's 118-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, the Cavs won their lone coach's challenge of the game on an out-of-bounds play off Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's leg. Cleveland is now 14-0 on the season in coach's challenges. Since the challenge rule was implemented in 2019, the Cavs are the first team to win 14 consecutive coach's challenges to start a season. Olson is in charge of replays and sits behind Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson on the bench. Several factors contribute to a challenge, starting with the players on the court. After a controversial play, often times the players will look to the bench and twirl their index finger. They are letting the coaches know that the officials might have erred in making the call. "When they do that, we can trust almost every guy," Atkinson said. There was also one instance where Atkinson felt the officials had gotten it wrong and asked for a challenge. "I had one where it was me feeling it," he said. "I am challenging this one. I felt it and I saw it. It's sort of multifaceted." Olson becomes ultra important as he studies the replays instantaneously. "They have all these different camera angles available," Atkinson said. "So, he can look at several angles. He's got to make a split-second decision. "He usually looks at one replay, sometimes two." In the recent Chicago game on Nov. 8, Olson informed Atkinson he wanted to challenge a call, but the coach "was a half a second too late and they had already gotten the ball in (bounds)." Atkinson said the refs are usually pretty good about allowing teams a little grace period to view the replay. The coach commends Olson for the job he's done thus far this season. "I hope Andrew isn't going to come to my office looking for a bonus," he joked. Olson was promoted to assistant coach in October after serving as shooting coach the previous two seasons. He joined the Cavs in 2018. Olson was a basketball trainer for NBA, college and high school teams in a company he formed called "Shot Analysis," which caught the eye of the Cavs. He was a former standout point guard at Division III Amherst College in Massachusetts, where he helped the Mammoths to the 2007 national championship. BIG FINE Atkinson said he doesn't think he broke any rules by resting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in a game last week against Miami and getting fined $100,000 by the NBA. "To be frank, no," he said. "It doesn't change my approach. My No. 1 job is to protect the health of my players. That's a big part of my job. I'll rock with that decision." The Cavs are in the midst of 15 games in 27 days, with three back-to-backs. "We have to figure this out," Atkinson said. INJURY UPDATES Both Darius Garland (toe) and Jaylon Tyson (concussion) are close to returning to the lineup, perhaps as early as Friday against the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Arena. "(Tyson is) super close," Atkinson said. "(Cavs trainer) Steve (Spiro) takes a good approach to these guys. We're hoping for Friday." Garland scrimmaged five-on-five (with coaches), one of the last steps before being activated. "He's itching (to come back)," Atkinson said. "He's had contact. He's real close to getting over that hump." FOOD GIVEAWAY Cavs center Jarrett Allen will host his ninth annual Meals + Math Thanksgiving event today. In partnership with Open Doors Academy, the event will provide 25 children from Breakthrough Schools' Willard and Woodland Hills campuses with Thanksgiving groceries and Allen teaching valuable lessons in math and budgeting. Each child will receive a $200 Giant Eagle gift card. HOME COOKING The Cavs improved to 6-2 at Rocket Arena after their win over Milwaukee. They are 23-8 at home over their last 31 home games since Jan. 5 of last season. That is the best winning percentage at home of any team in the Eastern Conference over that span. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.