ORLANDO – Back on Feb. 25 after a statement 40-point road win against the Orlando Magic, Donovan Mitchell and his Cleveland Cavaliers were at the halfway point of what would end up being a franchise-record 16-game winning streak. The talented and deep Cavaliers were in process of earning an Eastern Conference-best 64 regular-season wins. And with three NBA All-Stars, the Cavaliers’ best team since LeBron James’ departure has NBA title potential.
But after a Cleveland media member asked about the Cavs’ potential for greatness after that blowout win, Mitchell’s lessons from his past caused him to humbly offer caution.
“We are always going to be excited about what we are doing and the habits we are building. But at the end of day, what have we truly done? We have to go out there and prove it when it counts,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell and the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Cavaliers have the opportunity to truly prove it when it counts, starting today in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series against the eighth-seeded Miami Heat. The Cavaliers’ lone NBA title in franchise history came in 2016 when James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love led the way. With James, the Cavaliers went to the NBA Finals on five occasions — their last appearance coming in 2018.
Now with three All-Stars in Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, a 2022 NBA All-Star in center Jarrett Allen and a deep bench, the Cavs were one of the NBA’s top teams from start to finish this season under first-year head coach Kenny Atkinson.
What gives Mitchell caution to not bank on regular-season success was starring on a Utah Jazz team that earned the Western Conference’s top seed in 2020-21 but lost in the second round of the playoffs. This season, Mitchell led the Eastern Conference’s top team with a team-high 24 points per game. The six-time NBA All-Star is also projected as a candidate for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award and All-NBA teams. Mitchell also believes the Cavs are a true championship caliber team, and only winning can allow him to be viewed as one of the NBA’s elite players.
The following is a Q&A with Mitchell with Andscape talking about learning from the past, his fire within, the Cavs’ talent and growth from players to coaches, his own leadership, what the top seed is worth in the playoffs, and much more.
Our conversation has been lightly edited and condensed.
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
How much fire do you have not to be complacent and satisfied with regular-season results?
A lot. I’ve been here similarly. Not the same exact thing. We were the 1-seed in Utah and injuries got in the way of that. One thing I’ve learned is it doesn’t guarantee [a title]… There are so many things that can happen in an NBA season from season to season. So, I’m enjoying this. But yeah, there is a fire because you don’t want to give this opportunity up.
I was close [in Utah]. Felt close. That was out of our control. Injuries happened. There was definitely a fire to try to get to the next level for sure.
What were your emotions after last season, when the Cavaliers couldn’t overcome injuries before losing in the second round of the playoffs?
It was like, ‘Okay, we can really do something.’ I always felt we could be [the No. 1 seed East team]. I can’t say I thought it’d be now, right now, this [season]. But I knew we had the potential to be a really different team; otherwise, I wouldn’t have signed to come back. I just felt it. These things take time. We always try to plug and play s—. You plug and play and say, ‘Oh we got this and now were supposed to just cook.’ It took Boston seven or eight years to win a championship. They’ve been with those guys, plug and play different guys, and whatnot. So, it takes time.
Obviously, Evan, being who he has become, is still pushing him to get better. DG [Garland] is back to form. Obviously, Max [Strus] been phenomenal. Ken [Atkinson] has been great. Myself, I’m trying to find ways to be the best leader I can be for the group. I envision us being this type of talent… I’m very happy that we’re here, but don’t squander this opportunity. Let’s continue to get better and continue to not be satisfied with what we’re doing.
At what point in the season did you believe your Cavaliers could be special?
I want to say the Golden State game at home (136-117 win on Nov. 8, 2024). When we beat Golden State at home after being up 40… And then the West road trip going 4-0. Denver, Golden State, [Los Angeles] Lakers, Dallas. We beat Denver. We’re handling business. It’s close games. It’s blowouts. It’s so many different ways to win. It’s come-from-behind. That’s when I was like, ‘Okay, we got something special for sure.’ ”
You’re an NBA All-Star. But there’s also a higher level of stars that you aspire to get to. How do you get there?
It’s right there. The biggest thing that holds me back is winning. Talent-wise, I don’t think it’s even a discussion. It’s more like, ‘Can I win at the highest level?’ That’s been the question for most of my career. So, for me, that’s why you can’t squander these opportunities because that’s what puts you there. I said it [last] summer on the Melo [Carmelo Anthony] podcast, ‘I can use it as fuel, but I can’t get mad.’
I’ve been to the conference finals. I can use it as fuel, but then you got to go out there and produce a win. To shut them [critics] up, you got to go out there and win. So that’s the main goal, and I will do it by any means necessary. It doesn’t mean I have to go out and score 40 points every night. I’ve got to make the guys around me better.”
Does it not pain you to have not yet achieved the highest level?
It makes you hungry. It tests how much you are willing to sacrifice to win. That’s really what it comes down to. This season, Kenny challenges me on that. I’ve been a high-usage guy. I’ve been a guy willing to take a step back and allow guys to grow. I always say you don’t necessarily see the fruits or whatever you’re doing right away in life. But for it to happen this way is great. It definitely fuels you. It doesn’t pain me. It seems to be worth it.
How would you describe yourself as a leader right now, and have you evolved in that regard?
People always look at leadership as being able to just beat them up. ‘Hey, do this. Hey do that.’ But it is also being receptive. Kenny’s first thing was like, ‘Hey, you may not be on the ball as much. We got to get push Ev. We got to push the guys around you.’ I’ve wanted to push and have others grow. That’s been the biggest thing.
Now I’m starting to see how much it helps. You already know what I can do. But how well can Evan play? Can Ty [Jerome], DG, JA [Allen] mix in? Now, when it comes back to me, you’re so worried about everyone else. That’s the form of leadership where I’ve grown the most. I’ve always been the talker to motivate, but I think for me, [it’s] being able to step back, empower and go from there.
Jason Miller/Getty Images
Who do you consult with to hold you accountable and make you better?
[Cavs associate head coach] Johnnie Bryant. Obviously, Kenny and I have a great relationship. [Bryant is] a guy that’s always keeping me [honest]. Even when I have stretches where I play well, he will be like, ‘No, you ain’t done nothing yet. There is always room to grow.’ It’s always keeping yourself [humble].
I give Coach Kenny and Johnnie Bryant a lot of credit, just because there is always a challenge. There’s always something. Never satisfied. There’s always something more, and [Bryant is] probably the guy that gets the most out of me.
How valuable is the top seed?
It’s definitely big time. But it doesn’t matter unless you play your best basketball at the right time. This is cool. This is nice. This is great, but it’s just really meaningless until we get [to the Finals]. I don’t want to keep harping on that. I’m not trying to be negative. But this [No. 1 seed] don’t mean nothing. At the end of the day, keep playing your basketball, win games, and be ready when the time comes.
