Legendary Coach Rick Pitino Sends Message to NBA Star Amid Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated May 9, 2025 11:46 PM ET

The Cleveland Cavaliers were in a world of trouble after losing the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals at home to the Indiana Pacers. But in Game 3 on Friday, they finally looked like themselves again.

With all of their main rotation players available, they outscored Indiana 34-13 in the second quarter and never looked back. Their 126-104 victory put them back in the series, making Game 4 big for both teams.

Donovan Mitchell led the way with 43 points, and Rick Pitino, his old college coach, went on his X account to express his admiration for the six-time All-Star guard.

"I’m so blown away with how good @spidadmitchell is," Pitino wrote. "So proud of him."

I’m so blown away with how good @spidadmitchell is. So proud of him.
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) May 10, 2025

Mitchell spent two years at Louisville back when Pitino was its head coach. In his second season there, he averaged 15.6 points a game.

He was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, who instantly traded him to the Utah Jazz, but he quickly proved he should've been taken earlier.

He started to make his name as a big-name performer during the playoffs, especially in 2020, when he scored over 40 points three times and at least 50 points twice in seven playoff contests.

Since getting traded to Cleveland in 2022, Mitchell has helped make Cleveland into a legitimate Eastern Conference power. He scored 48 points in Game 2 on Tuesday when the Cavs blew a late lead and lost on Tyrese Haliburton's last-second 3-pointer, and he has the ability to help the Cavs come back and take this series despite how it started for them.

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

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