Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell the NBA player with most to prove, The Athletic says

The Athletic gathered its NBA writers — William Guillory, Law Murray and Josh Robbins — to talk about this season’s biggest individual storylines. MVP sleepers, redemption stories, comeback candidates.

But the name that stood out most, at least to Cleveland fans, was Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell.

Murray said Mitchell is the player with the most to prove heading into 2025-26. He pointed out that Mitchell made First Team All-NBA last season and helped lead Cleveland to 64 wins, but still hasn’t reached a conference finals.

“This might be the last time Cleveland has a team this special (and in a conference this thin) with Mitchell leading it,” Murray wrote.

Guillory agreed, calling attention to a stat that puts Mitchell in rare company. Only six players in NBA history have averaged at least 28 points in 60 or more playoff games — LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Kevin Durant, Allen Iverson and Mitchell.

“If Mitchell can get Cleveland back to the conference finals,” Guillory said, “he can cement himself among the top postseason performers ever.”

As for the MVP discussion, Robbins listed Mitchell among the top-tier candidates, even noting that his Cavaliers could finish first in the East again. Mitchell placed fifth in MVP voting last season and turned 29 last month, meaning he’s still right in his prime.

So while The Athletic’s roundtable tossed out names like Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama, it’s clear the national conversation hasn’t forgotten about Cleveland’s star guard.