Donovan Mitchell On People Overlooking Cavaliers: ‘It’s To Be Expected’

During an interview with NBA reporter Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Donovan Mitchell spoke about people overlooking the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The Cavaliers went 48-34 last season. They beat the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs in seven games but lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round in five games. 

“It’s to be expected,” Mitchell said. “Everybody that they speak on — if I’m correct, and correct me if I’m wrong — has made noise. We’ve got Boston, won a chip. New York and Philly are the other two. Obviously, we’ve all made it to the same distance. We’ve all made it to the second round. But at the end of the day, they’ve made major changes. We haven’t made major changes. So maybe that’s not something to talk about.

“But for us, I can’t let it piss you off. It just is what it is. They’re going to talk about what they want to talk about. And for us, we just have to go out there and just continue to prove to ourselves who we are, not worry about what’s being said around us. We all have our own motivation of not being healthy and available to play Boston and give them our best shot. That’s what happens. If you’re not ready and not healthy, then you miss your opportunity.”

Mitchell signed a three-year, $150.3 million maximum contract extension with the Cavaliers this offseason. The NBA star is averaging 27.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in a Cleveland uniform. 

Last season, Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 46.2% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 86.5% from the free-throw line.

“So, for us, that’s our motivation,” Mitchell said. “Just continuing to find ways to not just stick around. We got to get to a conference finals and then the Finals. That’s our biggest motivation. But it doesn’t shock me, to be honest with you, that we aren’t in those conversations. But it’s September, the goal is not to be in those conversations now. The goal is to be in those conversations when the time comes and when it matters.”