Donovan Mitchell was upset when people said he and Darius Garland couldn’t play together: ‘They think that you’re supposed to just click and vibe’

During an interview with NBA writer Deyscha Smith of SLAM Magazine, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell said he was upset when people said he and Darius Garland couldn’t play together. 

Mitchell and Garland are in their third season together as teammates. 

“The not being able to play together I think was definitely the toughest one because they don’t give it a chance, you know?” Mitchell said. “Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are another duo in this League, it took them eight years to win a championship. It takes time. Not saying we’re them, not saying they are us…Jamal Murray and (Nikola) Jokic. AD (Anthony Davis) and Bron (LeBron James). It takes time. … I think people fail to realize that. They think that you’re supposed to just click and vibe, but obviously, we haven’t got a chip yet. We got some work to do, but we’re headed in the right direction, and that’s all you can ask for—just continue to take the proper step forward.” 

The Cavaliers have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 57-14.

Mitchell is averaging 23.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists, while Garland is averaging 20.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists.

“We really look at the NBA game as, like, it’s 2K for real,” Mitchell said. “He’s never played with a ball-dominant guard, and I haven’t either, so that takes time for us to continue doing what [we do]. [Fifty-one] games the first year. That’s success, and people don’t look at us as that, but that’s success in itself. OK, we failed in the playoffs. Cool, next year, boom. Everybody gets hurt, different things, but we finally win a playoff series, first time. That’s another step. Now we’re at the top of the League, but at the end of the day, this really don’t mean nothing until we do something in the playoffs.” 

Cleveland is first in the NBA in points per game and offensive rating under first-year head coach Kenny Atkinson. 

Mitchell and Garland made the All-Star team this year, proving the critics who said they couldn’t co-exist on the court wrong.