Donovan Mitchell admits he was shocked after early 2025 playoffs exit: “I tried to process we don’t play tomorrow” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The NBA season is a marathon that kicks off with training camp in October and culminates in the NBA Finals in June. In between those are countless shootarounds, flights, practices, games and everything in between. It’s a grueling schedule that takes its toll on players’ minds and bodies.
Advertisement
So forgive Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell if it took him a while to process his team’s second-round loss to the Indiana Pacers, especially during a season when everything went well for them up until the postseason.
In a tell-all with Taylor Rooks, Mitchell recalled feeling lost after their season ended with a Game 5 loss to the Pacers, saying he had to face the fact that they didn’t have any more games left to play.
Grand plan in mind
The Cavaliers had a season to remember, winning 64 games and establishing themselves as one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. With the ease with which they defeated teams, Mitchell felt they were in for something special.
Advertisement
“That was my plan: all right, cool, 60 games, we’re on these win streaks, all right cool. I’m not saying we took anything for granted by any means, but it just felt like this was that time. I think everybody can agree with that,” the All-Star guard said.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan for the Cavs.
After sweeping the Miami Heat in the first round, they were pitted against a Pacers squad that was clicking on all cylinders. It also didn’t help that the injury bug bit their team at the most inopportune time. With all those things going against them, the Cavs ran into a brick wall and their once-spectacular season ended in a disappointing second round exit.
It was an ending that Mitchell didn’t foresee.
Advertisement
“When it ended so abruptly — even in the summer — I didn’t have any plans. I didn’t know what to do, you know what I mean? That’s why I think I found myself, even though I was moving around and doing different things, still just sitting there trying to process that we don’t play tomorrow,” he admitted.
“I was in Cleveland for about a week after, and usually after the season, I fly out right away, head back home. I just couldn’t leave because it was like, there’s no way, you know what I mean?” he added.
Fuel for the fire
As disheartening as the early exit was for Mitchell and the Cavs, he shared that he has since gotten over it, but not without learning from the experience. From the botched passes in Game 2, which he considered the turning point of the series, to how he wants to bring a title to the city, there were many lessons to take from last season.
Advertisement
“I think that’s ultimately going to fuel me. I’m at that point now where I’ve accepted it, and now I’m using it to work. But it’s definitely one of those things where, especially when you have a year like that as a group, you’re like yeah, this is special,” he shared. “So you know, it happens. You’ve got to find a way to move on and get ready for next year.”
With the Cavs’ core of Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley still intact, they have a strong foundation to build upon and make another run at the title next season.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.