Donovan Mitchell on being eliminated: ‘We’ll be back’

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Donovan Mitchell on being eliminated: ‘We’ll be back’

Originally posted on Ball Exclusives | By James Parker | Last updated May 26, 2026 1:16 PM ET

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2025-26 season came to an end on Monday when they lost Game 4 to the New York Knicks, allowing a 4-0 Eastern Conference Finals sweep.

After Game 4, Cavs star Donovan Mitchell said he’s still confident that Cleveland’s core group can be successful.

“I have no doubt that this group can get there,” he said. “I’ve said that all year. The biggest thing is you just use it as a learning lesson. It’s a tough learning lesson, but now we know.”

As he concluded his statement, he apologized to Cavs fans and vowed to be back.

"I'm sorry for the city of Cleveland for it to be like this in a sweep. That's ass."

Donovan Mitchell after the Cavs elimination. pic.twitter.com/kKYKN0gnHF

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 26, 2026

“I’m sorry for the city of Cleveland,” Mitchell said. “For it to be like this and the sweep. That’s a–. But I told y’all last year, and I’ll say again, we’ll be back. We’ll be ready. We’ll be hungry. And we’ll be locked in.”

While it was a disappointing end, this ECF appearance marked Cleveland’s deepest postseason run without LeBron James on the roster since 1992.

But with the highest payroll in the NBA, the Cavs expected to make the NBA Finals. Team owner Dan Gilbert took to social media shortly after the loss, promising to work hard this summer to “take the next step.”

We took a step ahead this spring, but we are nowhere near where we need to be. I can’t thank the fans enough for the support this year. We will dig in all summer and do everything we possibly can to take the next step. We will grind until we get there.

Congrats to the @nyknicks,…

— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) May 26, 2026

James Harden, who had a shaky postseason at best, also spoke to the media after the loss and expressed his desire to stay in Cleveland and run it back with the Cavs.

“Definitely want to be here,” Harden said. “I think we found something. It’s tough. It’s not ending how we wanted to, but I think we found something.”

This article first appeared on Ball Exclusives and was syndicated with permission.

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