Donovan Mitchell urges fans not to overlook the NBA regular season: “It is great for our fans but also great for building habits before the playoffs” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Donovan Mitchell knows the calendar: April rolls around, and suddenly, everyone’s tuned in. The games matter more, the lights are brighter and the intensity picks up. For the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ All-Star guard, however, fans miss the point of NBA basketball if they only show up in the playoffs.
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“It is important,” a reflective Mitchell told Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks about what the regular season means to him. “I think we kind of, fair or unfair, hold this expectation of the playoffs, and that’s it. I think we miss a lot of special moments, a lot of special things, because we overlook the regular season.”
For the fans
While it’s understandable that people want the intensity and high-stakes basketball in the playoffs, “Spida” wants them to recognize the value of the regular season for fans in general. It creates an avenue for the players to travel to interact with hoop faithful in other cities and inspire them.
“I think it’s important for our fans. I think it’s important to be able to reach and go to different cities and showcase our talent. Just being there, you know what I mean? And even if we don’t play, just being on the bench and kids can say they saw us. You never know whose first game it’s gonna be,” Mitchell added. “We never know what that moment will do to inspire. That’s what drives our league.”
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And beyond fans from other cities, it’s just as crucial for the ones at home. Playing winning basketball builds a connection with the hometown crowd, not to mention positioning themselves for better seeding in the playoffs.
For teams like the Cavs, that commitment has paid off. They recorded the second-most wins in franchise history last season — and the most without LeBron James — with Evan Mobley earning Defensive Player of the Year honors and Kenny Atkinson taking home the Coach of the Year trophy.
Building habits
Aside from expanding the league’s reach, the regular season helps refine individual skills and team execution. Facing a range of opponents forces players to adapt on the fly, stay locked in, and develop the habits that hold up under playoff pressure.
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In other words, the regular season grind creates a better product in the postseason.
“You work on things that get you ready in the playoffs,” added the six-time All-Star. “You know, in game 25, we’re in a back-to-back versus Miami and Atlanta. They’re two different styles, but we could see them (in the playoffs). What does that look like? Or if we’re playing New York and Boston, what does that look like?”
“I think (the regular season is) great for our fans, but it’s also great for building the right habits before you get to the playoffs,” stated Mitchell.
Mitchell’s perspective challenges the mainstream NBA narrative, which treats the regular season as a filler between the offseason and the real show in April. Some pundits (and former players) even think the league should shorten the season for different reasons.
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However, for Donovan it’s the ultimate proving ground. It’s a crucial stretch that makes or breaks a team and gets them battle-tested mentally and physically going into the postseason.
Fans who only tune in during the playoffs watch the climax without understanding the buildup. That’s already half the experience lost and perhaps half the excitement as well. Real fans know the thrill of the playoffs hits differently when you’ve followed the grind that led there.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.