Cavs vs Sixers | Donovan Mitchell Post Game | 11.05.2025
Don, just what did it mean to you? Obviously being a fan growing up and then being able to play in the uniforms on the court and also drop 46. I mean, this was really cool to me. I mean, this was the song um in the intro, my time with Fab and and I think it was Jeremiah. Like, I listened to that pregame when I was a kid. Um I know that was obviously the song in the intro to see us, you know, walking through the city and all that. like that’s, you know, you have moments where it’s just like this is obviously you play this game and you’re trying to win, but this was just a a cool day as a whole for me. Um, and obviously to have the night I had is definitely special as well. But I wouldn’t put the game that I had based on the court. I This kid pissed me off today. I was playing 2K. Um, I’ve been playing 2K for like two hours and I I told him too. I was like, “Wait, just wait.” He just called me washed up. He called me a bunch of things, but I I love it. You know what I mean? Um, he said he ain’t seen a highlight for me in a minute and I just told him, “All right, we’ll see.” He said, “Tell me to go to sleep.” Like, he he was going in. So, this game was uh for that for that kid or grown man, whoever that was. Um, but so I appreciate you. I I told him I’ll give him a shout out, too. So, that’s what tonight was. Um, but no, as a whole, this tonight was really dope, man. It’s it’s I’m kind of hoping we keep the court, you know what I’m saying? Um, but and kind of keep it for our home games, but we’ll see. Um, so There’s been some speculation about Jared Allen’s toughness after playoff series and now we’ve seen the guy try and fight back from a fractured rim just tonight play through a fractured finger. What would you say about J? Yeah, I’m glad you brought that up too cuz I was I was scrolling earlier today as well. So, I got a lot I’m ready. I’ve been waiting for this. I seen somebody a Cavs fan tweet that they were mad as it was selfish of Jay to get surgery, not get surgery. And I’m like this is the same guy y’all got mad at for sitting out cuz he pierced his rib, right? Like this dude goes goes to work every day. He gives us his all every night. He played all 82 through all injuries last year. Had to force his ass to sit out the past two games. You know what I’m saying? Like this dude goes to like and then has a night like tonight against two tough bigs. You know what I’m saying? Like he’s he’s phenomenal. He doesn’t get enough credit that the credit that he deserves. And we kind of the world focuses on his quote from the Knicks series and he doesn’t care. But like he shouldn’t that shouldn’t be right. like this this dude is is is really important to what we do. And to see him have nights like like tonight is is just big time. And I I I hate the fact that he gets crap for that. Like, you know, I mean, this man has he’s he’s grown each and every year that I’ve been here. Um he’s a joy to play with, joy to be around. Um and yeah, man, he’s he’s a hell of a player, hell of a person. So, I’m glad you said that cuz I was going to call that out, but I get to do it here. Donovan, what did it mean for you guys to have Darius back on the floor for the first time this year? Big time. I mean, you still have to start the game, right? Like, and obviously, we’re going to clean stuff up as the season as the season progresses, but you know, just being able to I mean, for me, I got to bring the ball up every time, right? You know what I mean? You have a guy that, you know, can can initiate and find obviously he’s going to find his rhythm, but just kind of get in there, you know, create um gets easy shots, knock shots down, makes everybody’s life easier. Um it’s just great to have him out there and just his vibe, his presence. Um, and credit to him because even though he’s been hurt, doesn’t feel like he’s been away. You know what I’m saying? Him and Max, like I’ve done a a very good job of you can be hurt sometimes and kind of be detached from the group. You know, he’s been there every every day. One of the first ones to show up to the gym, continue to get his work in. Um, and he’s only going to get better and better and it’s just great to have him back. with just his presence being out there, how beneficial is it, and you mentioned not having to bring all the time. How beneficial is it for everybody to sort of be in their natural roles when he’s there as opposed to winning? Yeah, it’s just it it it’s just like you said, it’s natural, right? It’s it’s another threat, you know what I mean? It’s and this is, you know, just how how it goes. When you have a guy who’s an all-star, you have to pay attention to where he’s at. You know, you got to look on both sides of the floor. Then you got Evan, you got Jay, then you got me, you know, then you got Sam coming out there. You got Craig, you got Larry, like there’s so many different people you got to look at. But when he’s out there, you know, you’re you’re your eyes are on him and he’s making plays that, you know, we’re moving on the backside. It just makes things a lot easier. There’s a lot more space when he’s out there and it’s it’s natural and we we we knew we know what he brings to us. Um and it’s just great to see him back and like I said, shots didn’t really fall tonight, but he’s just his presence alone just changes um us as a group. Chris. Hey, Donovan. Do you remember the 2K trash talker’s username? I didn’t want to give him that. I’m not going to give him all that. No. No. I’m not give I’m not giving him that much attention, but he knows who he is. Um, he was a It was a long long game, long discussion. We were going back and forth. Um, he probably clipped it, too, so it might be on the internet or somewhere, but I made sure that um I gave him his props for that. I appreciate it. And you mentioned Darius’s basketball impact. Kenny said that there’s just like a different confidence around the team when when Darius is is there and you guys are whole. How do you characterize the emotional lift that that you got tonight with Darius? Yeah. I mean, when you when you know you got a guy out there that can go get it, you know what I mean? Um from an offensive standpoint that can create um you know, it puts everybody at ease, right? like you know you you see me in my role, you see Evan, you see Ja and um you see JT Jaylen Tyson been playing phenomenally by the way, but like you just see everybody back into their normal positions. Um and that’s why we that’s why you built this team, right? You you don’t you you and we didn’t even have Dre like you know what I’m saying? We don’t have Max. So like this just you see what it can do and we didn’t do it for the whole 48 minutes and we’ll be better at that. Um, but especially to start the game and then to start the third quarter, you just saw like what we what we are. Sam, you mentioned Jaylen, fourth straight game, scoring double digit points. What have you seen from him in his development in his year two as he started this season? Um, just his confidence level like I like I said, I challenged him and he’s answered the call. He’s even to like little things like in film, coach will ask a question and he’s getting answers right. Last year he was kind of not and he shouldn’t get answers right last year. He’s a rookie, right? He’s getting questions right where should you be? He says I’m should be here like you know. So like just him taking that step from a mental standpoint. I don’t really personally I don’t care about the 10 points 18 points. I’m caring about the little things that he’s doing. Making it tough on guys getting in the half row rebounding the putback dunk. Like those are the things that you know he’s he’s going to be for us. And obviously yeah him having 18 and and and 10 and all those different things definitely help with what we got going on. But for him to take that step, and Kenny said it, but like for him to make the money that I I he’s going to make, it’s it’s in those roles, right? And he’s doing a phenomenal job with that. I know looking for that shot to fall, but in the meantime, how important is it for him to to be able to dish out assist on the board like that? I mean, I didn’t realize he had eight assists. Um, I mean, that just tells you who he is, right? Like he’s he’s still effective even though the shots not falling. That’s the that’s the, you know, character of a really good point guard, you know, and he sees things on the floor that, you know, necessarily we don’t always see. So, which makes us as a better group and he doesn’t we’re not relying on him to go out there and and go out there and score, you know, but for him to go out there and get eight assists and find a way to get on the boards and make it tough defensively. Like, that’s why he’s here and he’s doing that every single night for us whether the shot goes in or not. Donovan, two big leads tonight and they came back tied the first time, second time they got it. M down to 9 or 10. Kenny mentioned that maybe it might be more mental at this point, but is it kind of early in the season and stuff that you got to work on? No, this it can’t happen. Um I said it after who was it? Brooklyn, I think like at some point in time we got to figure this out ourselves, right? Um it just can’t happen. And it’s it’s a mental thing to Kenny’s point. And it’s all five of guys on the floor. It’s all everybody on the bench. It’s a collective. And Zo said it today, but like, you know, we got to we got to find a way as a group. It can’t just be two people or three people or four or or one or none. Like, it’s it’s everybody coming together. We we’re up 22, right? In the in the fourth, something like that. 23, like 27. Like, you know what I’m saying? So, it just can’t happen. Um 34 points in the fourth, 40 in the second. In the second quarter, it got choppy. So, like it’s tough in those scenarios, right? Um but still, if we want to be that team, that can’t happen. And um we watch our film tomorrow. we’ll hold ourselves accountable and that that’s that’s the biggest thing and um that I I take away from this early season games is like we have to continuously be that team that gets up and stays up and and honestly sits like in those in those situations like we should not be playing because we should be have taking care of business right then and there I know it’s early only eight games in but you’re getting to the rim less frequently than you have in the past you look at tonight’s game 46 points you were getting into the paint with floers obviously is what 611 for three. Is this the formula for you at this stage of your career to be your most efficient offensive set? I mean, yeah, I think I I could definitely get to rim a little bit more, but or if not the rim, least the free throw line, you know what I mean? Um, like turning those chances into into free throws. Um, but like I I said, my my biggest goal is just to be efficient. That’s efficient with my movements. Um, I said it the other day, like we talked about the over the top moves. Sometimes it’s not always just jumping at people and and I don’t I can do that. I could um it’s to the point now where I went to the windmill dunk at the end of the game and everybody’s like why like you know what I mean like say like you know what I mean like I I can you know what I mean it’s just like for for what reason um save yourself and kind of put yourself in the most efficient spots and I think yeah that’s you know part of my progression and you know using my athleticism when I need to and you know what I mean and obviously um like you said I haven’t been getting to the rim but a lot of it too is like hey if you want to pass excuse me if the help comes make the play and you know I’m knocking down shots you know continue to make tough shots and do what I do, but ultimately just continue to save your and preserve your body for a longer career. Spencer, sir, Donovan, you talked so much about Evan and this evolution he’s on. It was going to take time with with the guys coming back tonight, Jared, uh, Sam, and obviously Darius. Just how did you see him sort of fit in with those guys? Did it feel like tonight was maybe the first time we’ve seen what that version of Evan kind of looks like at his full potential? Yeah, and I think there’s still more room for him to to to to get better, right? Um, but you see he looks comfortable, you know what I mean? You see him in spaces and turnovers are turnovers like he’s going to make mistakes and different things, but you’re starting to see him feel like okay. And it was honestly a quiet 23, right? You know what I’m saying? Like there was there was more that he could have done. And obviously obviously I had 46, but like you know in nights we’re going to definitely need more from him. Um, but tonight was just like you said, it’s just this is this progression and I think you throw all that expectation on him and as he deserves, right? But at the end of the day, it takes time like it’s not going to just click right away. And now obviously when guys are healthy, you’re starting to see him full kind of go back into his form. Um, we have no doubt what he can be and he sees it and he knows it and playing in the pocket being poised and different things and um, that’s just that’s just who he is. 17 shots I’m happy getting into the paint. There’s a few that were tough that he’ll watch back on film that he probably shouldn’t have taken and and get better at, but we all have those, right? Like, you know, we all we aren’t perfect and you know, for him, he’s just going to continue to get better and better for us. I guess to take it one step further, obviously, you know, night one in New York kind of used the word clunky. I think you sort of also coign that in terms of what the offense kind of looked like. Um, was tonight also kind of what this offense looks like at its full potential as well, like you guys moving the ball as well as you did and everything just kind of free flowing. Yeah. I mean, and also too, like, and I give I give a huge credit to our young guys and we also also new, right? Like, you know what I mean? Like Zo, Larry, and then you got Craig, CP, and and JT. Um, like that though, we just got a lot of different parts moving right now. You know what I mean? So, it’s I don’t I don’t expect it’d be great if it did, but I didn’t expect for us to come out and just be the same team that went 15 and0, right? Like, you know, we’re still figuring things out as a group. Guys are getting healthy. We’re getting acclimated. And for for where we’re at, like as a as a health standpoint, I’m really happy with where we’re at because we haven’t even been at our best. We haven’t played our best game yet. Like, you know what I mean? Like, we’re still finding ways to get better. And that’s why I said I’m I’m glad we’re not 15 and0. Like, you mean we’re still finding ways to learn and get better and um you saw it in spurts tonight and we’re going to get better and better as season progresses. But you don’t you don’t first of all, you don’t want to be perfect. I don’t want to be perfect on November 5th. You know what I mean? I want to figure these things out and get better as a group and and we will. Thank you. Thank you. Do you go to um No. So I’m I’m playing um as myself like on it’s like called the park and and I was in the theater and people don’t really believe that I It’s me cuz it’s like why the hell are you playing? You had a game today game today. All that stuff.
Donovan Mitchell spoke with the media following a Cavaliers win over the Sixers in Rocket Arena.
