Donovan Mitchell excited about potential playoff matchup with Knicks

Donovan Mitchell has the Cleveland Cavaliers looking like one of the most impressive teams in the NBA.

Barring something crazy happening, Mitchell’s squad will finish fourth in the East.

As the No. 4 seed, they will face the No. 5 seed in the first round.

Presently, the No. 5 seed is the New York Knicks – and that’s exactly who Mitchell was hoping to see in the postseason.

“It’s full circle. You wouldn’t want it any other way. What kid wouldn’t want to play against his hometown team in the playoffs?” Mitchell told Stefon Bondy of the New York Daily News.

“I think for me, I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s a storybook ending — it’s not ending, but it’s a storyline. Something that’s really special and near and dear to me, being able to play in a playoff game in front of my friends and family, the team that I grew up watching.”

This has been a crazy year for Mitchell. Not only has he proven that he can win without Rudy Gobert, but he is the leader of one of the most exciting and promising up-and-coming squads in the NBA. 

Time will tell how Cleveland fares against New York in the playoffs, assuming the expected matchup comes to fruition. 

Mitchell and the Cavs will likely be slight favorites, but they are a relatively inexperienced bunch. The Knicks were here two years ago, and Jalen Brunson made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals with the Dallas Mavericks last season.

Either way, Mitchell clearly wants to make a statement against the Knicks in the first round. It's looking increasingly likely that he will get that chance.