If you’re just glancing at the box score, De'Andre Hunter looks like he's having a perfectly fine season. 14.6 points. 4.5 rebounds. A couple of assists. For a starting-caliber wing on a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers, those numbers usually scream "reliable contributor." But if you actually pull up the De'Andre Hunter game log and watch the tape from the last few weeks of 2025 and this start to 2026, you'll see a player in the middle of a massive identity crisis.
He’s struggling. Honestly, it's getting weird. Just last night against the Jazz, he put up a total of two points in 18 minutes. Two. For a guy making $23.3 million this year, that’s a tough pill for the front office to swallow.
The Bench Shift and the Missing Jump Shot
The biggest story in the De'Andre Hunter game log lately isn't just the points—it's the role. Coach Kenny Atkinson made the call back in mid-December to move Hunter to the second unit. Specifically, he hasn't started a game since December 14 against Charlotte. Why? Because the Cavs are significantly better when he’s not on the floor.
The numbers are pretty brutal. When Hunter is playing this season, the Cavs are basically a break-even team. When he sits? They jump to a +8.5 net rating. That’s not a small sample size anomaly; that’s a trend that’s been brewing for months.
Recent 2026 Performances
- Jan 12 vs UTA: 2 points, 1-5 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 18 mins. A total disappearing act.
- Jan 10 vs MIN: 4 points, 1-5 FG, 21 mins.
- Jan 8 @ MIN: 14 points, 6-11 FG, 7 rebounds. This was a glimpse of the "old" Hunter, but it ended in a loss.
- Jan 6 @ IND: 12 points, 5-9 FG, 9 rebounds. Solid, but he also had 5 turnovers.
- Jan 2 vs DEN: 16 points, 5-12 FG, 5 rebounds. His best scoring output since before Christmas.
The shooting is the real concern. Hunter is currently hovering around 30.3% from deep. To put that in perspective, he shot 41% just last season. That is a massive cliff to fall off. Some fans are calling it a "prolonged batting slump," as Atkinson recently put it, but in a league where spacing is everything, a 30% shooter at the small forward spot is a liability.
Why the De'Andre Hunter Game Log Tells Two Stories
There’s this weird gap between Hunter as a starter and Hunter as a reserve. In Atlanta, he was always that "3-and-D" guy who just needed more consistency. In Cleveland, they expected him to be the missing piece next to Mitchell and Garland.
It hasn't worked out that way.
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The De'Andre Hunter game log shows he actually performs better as a high-usage guy off the bench than as a spacer for the stars. When he's with the second unit, he gets to hunt his own mid-range shots. He's good at those. But the Cavs don't need mid-range jumpers from their fourth or fifth option; they need him to hit the open corner three.
The Injury Factor
We can't ignore the health stuff. Hunter missed time at the end of December with an illness, and he's dealt with lingering issues throughout the first half of the season. Historically, he’s only played 60+ games three times in his seven-year career.
That lack of continuity is visible. You see it in his defensive rotations. He’s not the 1v1 lockdown guy he was billed to be back at Virginia. He's getting beat by quicker guards, and the Cavs' defense has slipped to 16th in the league partly because their perimeter containment is leaky.
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Is a Trade Inevitable?
With the February 5 trade deadline approaching, Hunter’s name is starting to pop up in every rumor mill from Cleveland to Los Angeles. The emergence of Sam Merrill and rookie Jaylon Tyson has made Hunter somewhat redundant.
If you look at the De'Andre Hunter game log from the last ten games, he’s averaging roughly 11 points on 40% shooting. That’s not going to fetch a superstar in a trade, but for a team looking for wing depth and willing to gamble on his shot returning, he’s still an intriguing asset.
The contract is the hurdle. He’s owed $24.9 million next year. That is a lot of money for a guy who might be a permanent bench player.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the 3PT Volume: If Hunter isn't taking at least five threes a game, he isn't helping the Cavs' spacing. His 2-point jumpers are efficient, but they clog the lane for Mobley and Allen.
- Monitor the On/Off Splits: Keep an eye on the second-unit lineups. If the Cavs continue to look more fluid with Tyson and Merrill, Hunter's minutes will continue to dwindle toward the 15-18 range.
- The "Aggression" Metric: Hunter is best when he's getting to the free-throw line. In his 20-point games earlier this season (like the Nov 21 game against Indy), he was aggressive in the paint. When he settles for floaters, his value tanks.
The next few weeks are basically a tryout. If his play doesn't stabilize, don't be surprised if that January 12 game against Utah ends up being one of his last in a Cleveland uniform. He’s too talented to be this quiet, but in the NBA, talent only gets you so far when the production doesn't match the paycheck.