Is Donovan Mitchell a better leader or basketball player? | Cleveland Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell probably never had a stronger candidacy to be the NBA’s MVP than this season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But it’s also been a year in which Mitchell, by far, scored the fewest points since becoming the Cavs’ best player when they acquired him in the summer of 2022.
How can that be? “Unselfish MVP, that’s what I call it,” said Mitchell’s backcourt mate, Darius Garland.
“The thing that always comes through is that Donovan, he empowers others — subtly, not outwardly,” said Mitchell’s coach, Kenny Atkinson. “He’s taking a very unselfish route this whole entire season,” added Cavs forward Evan Mobley. “Helping me and (Garland) as well. That — I feel like it just helps us and helps him and makes his job easier.”
Mitchell knows he is not going to win the NBA’s highest individual honor this season. The award is going to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City or Nikola Jokić of Denver; one of them was the league’s top scorer on the NBA’s best team (Gilgeous-Alexander), and the other is the reigning and three-time MVP who enjoyed the best statistical season of his career and one of the best for any player ever (Jokić). | https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6284088/2025/04/17/donovan-mitchell-cleveland-cavaliers-2025-nba-playoffs/
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2 Comments
Bulls 1992-93 season, 57 wins, destroyed everyone in the playoffs, won the chip. Bulls 1993-94 season without Jordan, 55 wins, fairly close in terms of performance, flamed out in the playoffs, Pippin did not lead he tore that team apart. Leadership matters.
Houston will smash the Warriors pumpkin carriage. It took insane heavy lifting from Stef and Playoff Jimmy to get past the dumpster fire Grizzlies. Sengun is going to eat Draymond alive with a steady diet of elbows, the wings will shut down Jimmy, and VanFleet, Brooks, Amen and Stephen Adams are all tough SOBs who will be allowed to play MORE physical in the playoffs. These Grandpa's from the Bay are gonna get their dentures knocked out! Stef will have to do it all by himself. He can win 1 game by himself, but not 4.