Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell Believes He’s A Top 3 MVP Candidate

Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell told Malika Andrews of ESPN that he believes he’s a top-three MVP candidate. 

The Cavaliers have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and Mitchell is 17th in the NBA in total points and fourth in points per game. 

Donovan Mitchell believes his name should be brought up in MVP conversations:

"I feel like I'm top 3"

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— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BasketballOnX) February 14, 2024

Mitchell is averaging 28.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists this season while shooting 47.5% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 86.2% from the free-throw line. He has scored at least 30 points 18 times and has recorded five 40-point games. 

The last Cavaliers player to win MVP was LeBron James in 2010. If Cleveland continues on its torrid pace, Mitchell could etch his name next to LeBron as a Cavs legend. 

The Cavaliers are 35-17. They are 15th in the NBA in points per game and second in points per game allowed. Mitchell, 27, has a stellar plus-minus of +373.

Mitchell, Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Boston Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are putting up MVP numbers this season. It will be fascinating to see who wins the award. 

Mitchell has career averages of 24.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists with the Utah Jazz and Cavaliers. He scored a career-high 71 points last season against the Chicago Bulls. 

Mitchell signed a five-year, $163 million extension with the Jazz in November 2020. He’s making $32.6 million this season and will make $34.8 million in 2024-25. 

Mitchell has a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season. The All-Star can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025 if he declines that player option. 

The Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games. Donovan Mitchell and the rest of his teammates are hungry to go on a deep postseason run this year.