Donovan Mitchell has opened up about his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and how they overcome their series deficit.
When the Utah Jazz traded Mitchell in the summer of 2022, he was hoping he’d end up in his hometown of New York. So when he was sent to Cleveland instead, he didn’t know what to expect.
“It’s been one of the best seasons of my life,” Mitchell told FOX Sports. “I’m glad I’m here. Obviously, it’s no secret—did I want to go home? Yeah, of course. But once I got here, saw the group we had, and realized what we could build, it didn’t take long for me to think, man, this is something special.”
Now, he really feels accepted and a sense of belonging.
“The city of Cleveland has really won me over,” he said. “I genuinely love it there. It feels like home. That’s the biggest thing for me. Basketball will always be basketball, but when you’re spending most of your time somewhere, you want to feel safe, at peace—and I do.”
Mitchell earned his sixth straight All-Star nod this year and led the Cavs to a surprising 15-0 start. They finished the season as the top seed in the East with a 64-18 record – the second-best in the NBA.
But right now, the Cavaliers are in a tough spot, trailing 0-2 in their second-round series against the Pacers.
Mitchell did everything he could in Game 2, dropping 48 points along with nine assists, five boards, and four steals in a narrow 120-119 loss.
When asked how the team bounces back mentally, Mitchell was honest.
“You ain’t got no choice,” he said. “We can sit around and dwell on it—and be home in four or five days. Or we can learn from the stuff we did well and keep it moving. I’ve got no doubt everyone in that locker room is ready for Friday. Yeah, it stings, but we’ve got to handle business. Otherwise, it’s over. But I believe in everyone in that locker room. We all believe in each other.”
READ MORE: Steph Curry Finally Speaks on ‘Gut Punch’ of a Hamstring Injury
