Donovan Mitchell Defends James Harden by Bringing Up LeBron James and Michael Jordan’s Early Struggles

Harden struggled during the Knicks series, and his postseason record only added fuel to the widespread criticism. Mitchell, however, believes basketball fans are too quick to focus on failures while ignoring greatness.

Mitchell’s comments came less than 24 hours after Cleveland’s season ended in a disappointing 130-93 Game 4 loss. While the All-NBA guard admitted the sweep was embarrassing and difficult to process, he made it clear that his teammate deserves credit for helping the Cavaliers reach territory they had not seen since 2018.

Cavs Confirm Donovan Mitchell-James Harden Stance Amid Speculation

Despite an ugly end to their season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have things to look forward to for their future goals.

Recently, Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman said that both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden remain central to the franchise’s plans moving forward.

Mitchell’s long-term future has been up in the air for years, but Altman dismissed any concerns about the All-NBA guard wanting out of Cleveland.

“All I can tell you is Donovan has been steadfast in how much he loves it here,” he said. “There hasn’t been any question of will he be here or does he want to be here.”

He is extension-eligible this offseason, and Altman’s comments suggest the organization fully expects those conversations to take place. Additionally, the organization is equally committed to Harden.

After acquiring the former MVP at the trade deadline, Cleveland reached its first Eastern Conference Finals in years. While Harden’s performance against New York drew criticism, Altman credited him for helping stabilize the team during a turbulent stretch of the season.

“He helped regalvanize the group,” he added. “We’re not in the Conference Finals without James.”

Additionally, The Beard has already stated that he “100%” wants to return next season, and reports have indicated that Cleveland expects him to opt out of his current deal and sign a new multi-year contract this summer.