Donovan Mitchell’s play is one of the few things currently going right for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s been the one constant in a season filled with injuries and inconsistent play. And he isn’t just playing to his usual All-NBA standard. He’s raised his game to another level.
“Mindset,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said last week when asked what has changed for Mitchell. “I think the frustrations with losing last year in the playoffs drives guys like him to take another step.”
The numbers would seem to suggest that he has. Mitchell is scoring a career-high in points (30.5) and effective field goal percentage (59.6%). He’s now fourth in the league in points and has the fourth-highest effective field-goal percentage for a guard who has played over 300 minutes. Only reigning MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander is better than him in both categories.
“I know he tweaked his offseason program,” Atkinson said of Mitchell. “I’m not going to tell you exactly what that was. Maybe he can tell you. [He was] definitely working on different things. I know he tweaked stuff with the performance part, to the weight room, all that stuff. These elite players are really tweaking stuff on the margins.”
Mitchell hasn’t given away exactly what changed in his approach to this season, but it was heavily influenced by Cleveland’s loss to the Indiana Pacers in the second round last postseason. The Cavs — specifically Mitchell — ran out of steam by the end of that series.
Indiana did a good job of making Mitchell earn baskets in the paint. They were physical at the rim and made him pay the price for driving inside. Mitchell had success early on, but couldn’t keep it going. He wore down as the series progressed and was dealing with a calf strain as well.
By the end of the series, it didn’t seem like Mitchell had much left in the tank. Indiana played at a considerably faster pace than Cleveland was used to. They turned missed shots into made baskets on the other end in a way no other team in the playoffs did.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 13: Obi Toppin #1 of the Indiana Pacers greets Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers following Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 13, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Indiana defeated Cleveland 114-105. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) Getty Images
Playing faster has become a trend across the league this regular season. But Mitchell is ready for that now.
“I think last year, having to play at that pace in the playoffs was different,” Mitchell said after the win over the Los Angeles Clippers in November. “But now you’re seeing that every night, right? So that kind of prepared me to come out here and say, okay, even though they are pressing you, it’s not always downhill to attack. It’s downhill to create.”
Mitchell has mentioned that he would rather use his athleticism when he needs it. It’s part of his progression as a player at this point in his career. This has shown up in where Mitchell is scoring from. He’s attempting the fewest shots at the rim in his career.
In its place, he’s added floaters and short midrange shots to counter when defenses shift over to protect the rim. That’s why you’re seeing more of the up-and-over gather move — he’s admitted to stealing that from Dwyane Wade — to get to his floater. This has led to Mitchell completing 59.4% of his shots in the short midrange (between 4-14 feet of the basket), which is the fourth-best percentage for a guard who’s played over 300 minutes this season.
“That’s what last year’s playoffs taught me, if you have to continue to drive full court every single possession, you’re going to tire out,” Mitchell said. “You won’t be efficient. And I don’t just mean scoring, I mean overall as a basketball player.”
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This approach hasn’t negatively impacted Mitchell’s ability to get to the line, as he’s taking his most free-throw attempts per game. He’s being his best, most efficient self while better preparing for playoff basketball, where it’s more difficult to get to the rim.
“He’s in the money spot with [his] age,” Atkinson said. “This is when guys are really in that great stage in their career mentally. They know what’s going on in the league, how they fit in with the team. Not just the on-court stuff, but the off-court stuff and the leadership stuff. It’s close to perfection, and he’s a perfectionist.”
Despite how well Mitchell is playing, having to rely on him this heavily in the regular season isn’t ideal. Cleveland is 7-1 in games he scores 35 or more points and 7-10 when he doesn’t. This includes being 0-4 when he scores 21 points or fewer.
“I don’t think that’s a long-term sustainable [plan],” Atkinson said of Mitchell’s heroics. “We need more balance. And I do think as we get healthier, he understands that, but we need more balance. And we’ll get more balance as Darius [Garland] starts to get his rhythm, and we get guys back. But right now it’s on him. He’s got to carry us.”
The Cavs aren’t a serious championship-contender with how they’ve played through their first 25 games. Mitchell’s incredible scoring has kept them within shouting distance of the top of the conference. That said, we’re still four months away from the start of the playoffs. The Cavaliers have plenty of time to figure things out, as they hope to get healthy.
And once they get to the playoffs, they have Mitchell playing the best basketball of his career. That, more than anything, is a reason to be optimistic about their future, even when their play has been so uneven. You always have a chance when you have the most skilled player in the series.
“Scoring-wise, I feel like I’m at my best right now,” Mitchell said.