CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – When Donovan Mitchell resigned with the Cavaliers last summer, he didn’t just call Cleveland his, “home away from home.”
He proved it.
For Mitchell, it has never been just about buckets. It’s about building something bigger, especially for kids.
“When I came here and I decided to resign, this became home,” said Mitchell. “This is my home away from home, and I want to be integrated into the community. That’s where my mindset comes from to be one with the community. Obviously, me being who I am, with the pedestal, the stage, and the presence I have, I want to show the person I am, not just the athlete.”
His Spida Elite Camp took over John F. Kennedy High School with kids from first through eighth grade getting up-close lessons from the man himself, going through drills, games, and a whole lot of memories.
Some campers were from Cleveland, others drove in from West Virginia, and some even came from Mitchell’s family homeland of Panama.
#Cavs Donovan Mitchell spent the past two days hosting his Spida Elite Camp in Cleveland, working with kids from 1st through 8th grade on basketball skills and more. He said he treasures the time with them and loves being fully in the moment.@spidadmitchell pic.twitter.com/FJE1DgHWNr
— Ashly Holder (@AshNoelleTV) September 14, 2025
While the kids soaked up every minute, the camp also raised money for his Spida Cares Foundation, which supports education and fights homelessness.
“We’ve done a lot, whether it’s giving back to the homeless, single parents, or education,” Mitchell explained. “I think the biggest thing is education that’s our biggest initiative. This is our youth.”
“Whether it’s using the money here to support education, or last year’s camp in Greenwich, where the funds went toward housing the homeless and other needs, pillows, bedding, different things like that, it’s just about finding a way to make this camp useful and impactful.”
Mitchell is impacting the youth in multiple ways, but he said it’s the time he spent that sticks with these kids and with him for a lifetime.
“A lot of times, you go to camps and the big names aren’t really around. Their name is there, but they’re not in it with the kids. For me, when I’m here, I’m here. I’m not off to the side or just sitting and watching.”
“Whether I’m on the mic or playing, there’s very little rest for me. I want the kids to feel that energy, to have that moment. So when they go tell their friends, they can say, ‘I was with that guy from TV.’ I’m reachable, I’m touchable. I’m not just some character they can’t connect with. I’m here, and I’m a part of the community.”
For Mitchell, it’s not about putting his name on a camp. It’s about sweating with the kids, being accessible, and making sure they know he’s part of their community.
He may be a six-time All-Star and on track to be one of the best to ever do it but for Donovan Mitchell, his legacy will be measured far beyond the court.
#Cavs Donovan Mitchell prides himself on being accessible to kids. He told me that 30 years from now, his legacy won’t just be about what he did on the court, but about who he was as a person and the impact he made in his community.@spidadmitchell pic.twitter.com/eZ7SxYCWgZ
— Ashly Holder (@AshNoelleTV) September 14, 2025
“I think a lot of times we get caught up in the superhero side of it all, but the truth is, you never know how much impact this can have on just one child. If I can impact one child at this camp, that’s what it’s all about. Thirty years from now, that will be my legacy. Winning a championship would be fantastic, of course, but at the end of the day who are you as a person? What did you leave behind? What was your impact?”
“Obviously, I want to build a family legacy, but also a personal legacy. People are always going to have something to say about me — good, bad or indifferent. But at the end of the day, I know who I am, and I know what I mean to this community and to the world. That’s what I’ve built as a brand, and that’s going to continue to show. I may be on TV, maybe a few rows ahead of you, maybe we don’t talk but when I’m here, I’m here. And I’m just like everybody else.”
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