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Shedeur Sanders sends clear message by ditching NBA playoff game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steven Corder | Last updated May 10, 2025 6:33 PM ET

The buzz in downtown Cleveland was unmistakable. The Cavaliers had just pulled off a big win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But one high-profile athlete in town wasn’t glued to the screen.

Shedeur Sanders, former Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback and now a newly minted member of the Cleveland Browns, had other priorities.

“I was focused on the playbook, I couldn’t even watch the game,” Sanders said when asked about Cleveland’s latest playoff victory. “So that was pretty much it, but no, I respect everything they’re doing. And the downtown, the poster is real nice on there. That’s really cool, and yeah, I’m just excited to be here.”

#Browns QB Shedeur Sanders said he's pulling for the #Cavs to keep their playoff run going—hoping to get to a game with some teammates and family.

He said he saw they won last night but couldn't watch the game cause he was "focused on the playbook." pic.twitter.com/NzVmSuN0sJ
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) May 10, 2025

That poster—plastered across buildings near Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse—features Cavs stars Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. And it’s not just the art catching Sanders’ attention. Though he didn’t watch the game live, the second-year college star turned NFL rookie is clearly embracing the energy of his new city.

Still, Sanders’ remarks send a strong signal to Colorado fans back home: His commitment to football hasn’t wavered.

While many young stars might be swept up in the spectacle of NBA playoff action, Sanders made it clear where his mind is—his new NFL playbook. Coming off a 2024 college season where he threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns despite taking 43 sacks, Sanders now faces the steep transition to pro-level football. With competition, expectations, and Cleveland’s offensive scheme all in front of him, distractions simply aren’t an option.

But that doesn’t mean he’s ignoring the Cavs altogether.

“I’m pulling for the Cavs,” he added. “Hoping to get to a game with some teammates and family.”

Colorado fans should take comfort in Sanders’ mindset. Even as the city around him erupts in playoff fever, he’s locked in on football—ready to prove that his leadership on the field wasn’t just a college phenomenon, but a mentality he’s carrying into every phase of his career.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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