During the traditional press conference to formalize his arrival in Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell did not fail to respond to Danny Ainge’s statement earlier this week.
Arrived during the season to join the organization chart of the Salt Lake City franchise, Danny Ainge had deplored the lack of cohesion of the team at the end of the Jazz season, thus justifying this profound reorganization of the workforce, between the departure of the coach, Quin Snyder and the transfers of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
“I don’t think we don’t believe in each other”, said “Spida”who settled down in Ohio. “I said at the end of the season not to trade Rudy Gobert and that we had to try to find a solution. And that didn’t happen. The fact that he can say that after spending six months around the team, I don’t agree. But you know, at the end of the day, it’s his decision”.
All summer, we thought he was going to take the direction of the Knicks to evolve in his hometown. And him first!
” I won’t lie about it, I thought I was going home“said Donovan Mitchell. ” Once Rudy (Gobert) was traded, I thought it was written. I think we’ve all seen it. (…) I had the feeling that I was going to be transferred. I thought it was New York. Who doesn’t want to play at home, next to their mother? I haven’t lived at home since I was in CM1. “
“It’s crazy how life can come full circle”
But when he learned he was finally joining the Cavaliers, he squealed with delight. Especially since, as a kid, he was a fan… of the Cavaliers!
” When I was five, six, I had a Cavaliers jersey he recalls. ” I was a LeBron fan, but I was also a Cleveland fan. It’s crazy how life can come full circle. I remember some things, and I love playing in this room. I am really very happy to be here. I couldn’t be happier. “
Donovan Mitchell was such a LeBron James fan that he was in the room during the filming of “The Decision”! It was 12 years ago…
LeBron still plays, but no longer in Cleveland, and Donovan Mitchell loves the current group, with which he has great ambitions: “ I was there thinking to myself, ‘We have a talented group that was 3rd in the Eastern Conference before injuries hit them, and again, I wasn’t there. On paper, we are scary! We can only do better and more, and continue to win and build. We are young but we are hungry. We are ready!“
| 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 |
| Total | 345 | 34 | 44.1 | 36.1 | 83.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 23.9 | |
