Donovan Mitchell reflected on his turbulent summer, the Jazz star having been at the heart of rumors during the offseason to finally land in Cleveland, where he made a big start to the year.
Interviewed by The Athleticthe rear first mentioned the reasons why he adapted so well to the collective of JB Bickerstaff, and allowed him to cross this course which makes the Cavaliers a legitimate contender for the Top 4 in the East.
“When I look at the player that I have been during my career, I would say that I am a guy who could score. But I assert myself on another level defensively now. Having another dominant back like Darius Garland, who can score 30 points at any time, and also Caris LeVert who can do the same, takes a bit of the pressure off and allows you to be more involved defensively, to have Energy. Besides that, my coaches and my teammates allow me to be myself. I scored in the last games, but I also made passes, I was a leader”, did he declare. “It was a good thing to be able to come here, in a group where we have the same intentions. Last year, I didn’t play my best basketball. I had the worst playoff streak of my career. So it hurts to be out early. And here they finished a week and a half before me (in play-in), so they have the same feeling. They have the same appetite.
Gone to last?
Honestly, he also addressed his position during the offseason, slipping that he tried to be as open-minded as possible during the process, while conceding that Cleveland was not among his priorities.
“It was not one of the teams that was on my radar”he blurted out. “But I just said to myself, ‘Listen, I’ll go where I’m going.’ If it’s back to Utah training camp, I’m ready. I took the summer to tell myself: ‘I played like shit during the playoffs’. I was not at my best and I want to get back to my best, wherever it is. Wherever I am: in New York, Brooklyn, Toronto, OKC or Utah”.
Started on a big basis at the individual level, in the Top 4 of the best scorers in the league, with an insolent 3-point skill (43.4% success) and more than six assists per game, Donovan Mitchell landed in candidate for the title of MVP.
But to make a difference, he knows his team will have to be among the best in his conference.
” I really think so “he replied about his ability to keep this pace over the duration of the regular season. “I believe in myself, I have confidence in myself. But at the end of the day, I put 30 points in the last two games (against the Clippers and the Kings), and we didn’t win. So it’s worth nothing. This is where I am at the moment (…). If we win, everything else will roll. I feel like one of the best players in the league, and we have two of the best defensive players in the league. (Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley), two guys who can be on the “All-Defensive Team”, Darius Garland who is an All-Star, so many elements next to me that make who if we take care of what we have to do, everything else will follow”.
| Donovan Mitchell | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 79 | 33 | 43.7 | 34.0 | 80.5 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 77 | 34 | 43.2 | 36.2 | 80.6 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 23.8 |
| 2019-20 | UTH | 69 | 34 | 44.9 | 36.6 | 86.3 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2020-21 | UTH | 53 | 33 | 43.8 | 38.6 | 84.5 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 | UTH | 67 | 34 | 44.8 | 35.5 | 85.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 25.9 |
| 2022-23 | KEY | 10 | 39 | 51.4 | 44.8 | 86.2 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 31.9 |
| Total | 355 | 34 | 44.3 | 36.4 | 83.4 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 24.1 | |
