Donovan Mitchell gained’t let Cavs go quietly after 'among the finest seasons of my life'

Donovan Mitchell did not anticipate to be this blissful.

When the Utah Jazz determined to commerce him in the summertime of 2022, he had hoped he’d land in his hometown of New York. So, when he was despatched to Cleveland, he had no concept he’d really feel the way in which he does now.

“It has been among the finest seasons of my life,” Mitchell instructed FOX Sports activities in an unique interview. “I am glad I am right here. Clearly, it is no secret: Did I need to go house? I imply, yeah, certain. However coming right here, seeing the group we had, understanding what we might proceed to construct, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than I used to be like, man, that is particular.”

Mitchell, who was named an All-Star for the sixth straight season in February, helped the Cavaliers stun the NBA by opening their season with a 15-0 document and ending as the highest seed within the Japanese convention, with the second-best document within the league at 64-18.

Mitchell has introduced each the Jazz and Cavaliers to the playoffs every of his eight seasons within the NBA, however he has by no means superior previous the second spherical.

He’s hoping that might change this yr.

However in a shocking growth, Mitchell now finds his Cavaliers in a 2-0 sequence gap towards the Indiana Pacers of their second-round playoff sequence, with Recreation 3 in Indiana on Friday.

Mitchell poured out his coronary heart in Recreation 2, ending with a 48-point, nine-assist, five-rebound and four-steal efficiency within the Cavaliers’ 120-119 loss. The shorthanded Cavaliers – with out Defensive Participant of the Yr Evan Mobley (ankle), De’Andre Hunter (thumb) and Darius Garland (toe) – led by as a lot as 20 factors, together with seven factors within the closing 50 seconds, earlier than Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton made a game-winning 3 with 1.1 seconds left.

It was crushing for Mitchell, who had placed on a cape regardless of coping with an ailing calf and cramps. However when requested how the Cavaliers can recuperate from this psychological blow, he did not hesitate.

“You ain’t obtained no selection,” Mitchell stated. “We might sit right here and dwell on this, and be house in about 4 or 5 days. Or we might transfer on and take some issues that we did rather well and go from there. I’ve little question that everyone in that locker room is prepared for Friday. It sucks, it stings, however we have got to go on the market and deal with enterprise. In any other case, that is it. However I consider in all people in that locker room. We consider in one another.”

Mitchell is hopeful that the Cavaliers can flip issues round.

They’ve performed for one another all season, with Mitchell main by instance by taking over a lesser function on the offensive finish to allow Garland and Mobley to change into the very best variations of themselves. The Cavaliers went on to complete with the top-rated offense (121) within the league this season.

For Mitchell, sacrificing for his workforce was a no brainer.

In Utah, not solely did he expertise a seemingly limitless sequence of disappointments on the courtroom, however he handled racism off of it. In Cleveland, he lastly feels as if he belongs.

“Town of Cleveland has actually gained me over,” Mitchell instructed FOX Sports activities. “I actually take pleasure in being there. It seems like house. That is my largest factor. Basketball goes to be basketball. However you spend most of your time there and I really feel prefer it’s house. It feels protected. I really feel like I am at peace. And that is actually one of many largest issues for me.”

This season, Mitchell averaged his fewest pictures since his rookie marketing campaign (18.6) and had a career-low in minutes (31.4), a selfless act for a participant who’s able to scoring 71 factors in a recreation, as he did for the Cavaliers in 2023.

But, regardless of ending with much less gaudy stats than traditional this season (24 factors, 4.5 rebounds and 5 assists a recreation), his identify was exalted. He is thought of a powerful contender to be named to the All-NBA first workforce for the primary time in his profession, in addition to presumably ending within the top-five in MVP voting.

In the meantime, the Cavaliers soared, smashing expectations and gaining respect as true championship contenders.

Town hasn’t had this a lot hope since LeBron James’ two stints with the Cavaliers, which included reaching the Finals 4 straight seasons (2015-2018), and main them to their first championship in 2016, earlier than leaving in free company in the summertime of 2018.

The Cavaliers went on to overlook the postseason 4 seasons in a row from 2019-2022 earlier than Mitchell arrived. In 2023, Mitchell carried them to the primary spherical of the playoffs. Final season, he introduced them to the second spherical, the place they misplaced to the eventual-champion Boston Celtics.

Mitchell is well-aware that he has breathed new life right into a sports-obsessed metropolis that desires to expertise greatness once more.

In actual fact, he desires to redefine the Cavaliers’ legacy from being a franchise that is fully depending on James to find out its pinnacles and nadirs, to being a workforce that may attain the highest with a brand new set of stars.

“We do not discuss essentially it being the primary time since LeBron has left,” Mitchell instructed FOX Sports activities of the Cavaliers being contenders. “I feel it is extra so what we are able to do as a bunch and be particular. I feel it is one thing we positively need to do for our personal proper. LeBron has finished unimaginable issues for the franchise. Now it is time for us to attempt to proceed to convey one other championship to the town.”

For Mitchell, that is going to be an uphill battle.

The Cavaliers are ravished by accidents, with two All-Stars lacking Recreation 2. Haliburton has remodeled from being labeled essentially the most overrated participant within the NBA in a ballot by his friends, to turning into essentially the most clutch participant this postseason. Mitchell has given all the pieces he has this sequence, averaging 40.5 factors whereas being a dogged defender, nevertheless it hasn’t been sufficient.

“I do not know what extra he might do,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson stated.

However Mitchell is simply gritting his enamel more durable.

He is aware of what the Cavaliers are able to engaging in. They’d their most wins in 15 years this season. They one-upped their outstanding 15-0 begin with a 16-game win-streak that prolonged by means of mid-March.

This workforce has one thing particular.

It is why Mitchell, who did not need to land in Cleveland three years in the past, agreed to a three-year, $150.3 million contract extension with the workforce final July.

In actual fact, Mitchell made that call six months earlier, whereas taking part in a regular-season recreation in Paris as a part of the NBA’s World Video games initiative towards the Brooklyn Nets, which, paradoxically, have been one of many groups he had initially hoped to affix.

At the moment, Mitchell realized he had bonded along with his teammates. He had fallen in love with Cleveland. And amid rumors he would depart, he made up his thoughts that he was going to remain.

“Once we have been in Paris, it simply felt totally different,” Mitchell instructed FOX Sports activities. “You had that feeling that that is the place you need to be. I felt that early on, too. However as soon as we did the Paris journey, I knew I used to be coming again, for certain.”

Now, Mitchell is pouring himself into resuscitating the Cavaliers’ season.

In Cleveland, he not solely discovered an important workforce, however he discovered a house.

And whereas his path to profitable his first championship simply grew to become extra serpentine, he is up for the problem.

“That is what you play for,” Mitchell instructed FOX Sports activities. “You proceed to run right into a wall, and, how do you work it out? It did not occur in Utah. And the objective is to get it finished right here.”

Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Occasions, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Specific-Information. Observe her on Twitter @melissarohlin.

FOLLOW Observe your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports activities expertise