Donovan Mitchell Remains Happy In Cleveland Despite Lack Of Postseason Success With Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in 2022. 

Since then, the Cavaliers have lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2023 playoffs and the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2025 playoffs. 

During an interview with Taylor Rooks, Mitchell said he’s happy in Cleveland even though he hasn’t reached the conference finals yet. 

“I tell people all the time that this was the first year in about five years where there was not a question of where is Donovan Mitchell going next,” Mitchell said. “You know what I mean? Like, and I was in Utah, it was like where’s he going next? When I was in Cleveland, he wasn’t. I was like I’m not staying. Oh, I’m not staying. He’s not staying. And then it became like after every win, after every loss, we go on a losing streak, it’s like, oh, this is why he’s leaving. You know what I mean?

“And I think it became, it just became a lot. And I didn’t realize it in the moment. When you’re in it, you don’t really notice how much that really like, you know, stresses you in life. And not necessarily always in a bad way, but it’s just like it’s always on your mind. It’s on your teammates’ mind. That teammates got to answer these questions. My coach has got to answer these questions. You know, GM, everybody’s got to answer the question of like, where’s he going? What’s he doing?

“I think for me, just being able to call a place home and be there and want to be there and be like, all right, cool. This is where I’m at.”

Mitchell is averaging 26.2 points with the Cavaliers. He has made the All-Star team all three years in Cleveland and he made the All-NBA First Team last season. 

The Cavaliers were the first seed in the East last season. They swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs but lost to the Pacers in the second round in five games. 

A six-time All-Star, Mitchell has career averages of 24.7 points with the Jazz and Cavaliers. He will make $46.4 milllion next season.