End-of-Season Media Availability | Donovan Mitchell | 5.14.2025

End-of-Season Media Availability | Donovan Mitchell | 5.14.2025

Get out of Chris. Are you over this one yet? No, I haven’t been. Sorry. Um, no, not at all. Um, I haven’t been asleep yet. Probably watched the game twice. It’s tough, man. It’s It’s tough. It’s just um, you know, you you put a lot into a season. you know, you overcome, you know, different things throughout the year. You, excuse me, overcome, you accomplish different things throughout the season and you feel like you’re right there on the cusp and then it to end this way is um it’s tough and you know, but ultimately you can just go one of two ways. You can let it deter you from your goal or you can find a way to let it feel feel to you. You mentioned throughout the course of the season and again last night that judgment for this comes during the playoffs. Do you think that’s fair? It’s the way it is. Life ain’t fair, you know. Um, look, I mean, you you see guys say like we get we we are very blessed to to to be in this position and do what we do. Um if the criticism if one of the pressures or the things that we have are us getting killed over this you know got to get this like you got to get criticized somewhere like you know what I mean and it’s just what it is like you know this is a blessing to be able to play this game but you got to you know you got to take what comes with it you know it was blessing to be take care of my family but you got to take care you got to be prepared for what comes with it. I’ve been saying it to you all year 64 wins is cool. We only won what, five games in the playoffs, like you know what I mean? So, um, we deserve like, you know, we we deserve it. You know, we we didn’t hold up our end, you know. So, it’s up to us to figure it out and, you know, go from there. So, yeah. What do you think it’s going to take for you to get out of the second round? Are you speaking to me personally or as a team here? person because it’s obviously something that you have talked about in the past. You want that that weighs up. Um I think it’s, you know, a continuing of the work. Like I’m y’all know my work ethic. It’s not about the work. It’s sometimes just the moment. You know, you just got to be ready for it. And it’s not just myself, it’s everybody. Um, this isn’t easy. Winning is not easy in this league. You know, sometimes you have to be lucky, sometimes you get unlucky. Um, I think the biggest thing is I’m just not going to stop. Like, you know what I mean? We’re not going to stop. Um, I can go, well, I shouldn’t say this, but like if I went another 10 years and I was in the same or another eight years, excuse me, and I was in the same spot, I wouldn’t stop. Like, you know what I mean? I think that’s the only way to get past it is to keep going. You know what I mean? It’s everybody’s going to feel free to say what they want to say say about us as a group, about me as a player. I’m not going to stop. You know what I mean? So, um and the day I do is the day I fail myself. You know what I’m saying? So, um I’m going to keep going. Y’all going to see me here media day smiling, being raised, giving you the same spiel about. We got to respond the same thing cuz it’s what it takes. You know what I mean? So, I’m not going to stop. We’re not going to stop and we’ll figure it out. you’ve had your eight, you know, years in the league and obviously in this position before sitting up here, why is why is this different? Um, I feel like with the way the regular season went and the way things were going, the habits, not so much like the habits, I think the way our habits were in the se like we we you saw it like you know, you saw the steps. um that were taken that necessary steps that could be taken, you know, just from in here from the locker room, obviously what you saw on the floor, but like and yeah, granted we had our mishaps throughout the season, but like you saw it, you know, and I think um it’s it hurts because it’s just it was so fast. Like it’s just like bow like just stop like you know what I mean? And um I have no plans like you know what I mean? Like I have no off like I don’t know what the hell I’m doing tomorrow. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing next week. Like you know what I mean? Um there’s no like it just was abrupt. I mean that’s what that’s what’s so tough because you we believe we believe in each other. We believe that this was this was a year. Everybody did. Y’all all said everybody like you know what I mean? Like so um that’s what sucks. But on the flip side, I said it last night like we’ll be back. like this is what makes people who they are. This is what makes teams who they are. When they tell that story, when they reach the pinnacle, you reflect back on these moments. You reflect back on everybody saying how we suck. Like, you know what I’m saying? You reflect on those moments. Um when you get to the top, whenever that may be. Um, but it sucks and it hurts because it just wasn’t, you know, it just wasn’t supposed to end like this. You know what I mean? Is there any, I guess, I know it’s just happened or solace knowing, but that and you said last night, you let the fans down, but solace knowing that you left everything out there, you know, personally on the floor. We could see you on the court, not during the game, but even after the game, after everybody’s gone, your feet on that floor not want to Yeah. I mean, it’s funny like the picture I tweeted when I first came here, right? um in the Cavs jersey like you know hearing a mod like I I I people probably thought I was joking and BSing like you know saying whatever cuz I was like new here but I meant that like this is an amazing place to play like I’ve watched it on TV. I’ve been here during the finals game. Um, the towels, the screaming, the music, the fire, the the vibe when I’m driving in, like this is a special place. And all season it felt like, man, I like this is what I dreamed of as a kid. Like, you know what I mean? All season it felt even since I got here, but all season. So, who am I not to try to literally die out there on the floor for for the fans that, you know, put so much into us? Like, you know what I mean? It’s not like that in every I mean we travel on the road like you know what I mean it’s not like that everywhere. Um I’ve been fortunate enough to play in two places who were like that. Utah was like this as well uh similar. So I think for me and and for us as a group you know it’s a special place and I think that’s what hurts is not winning any game at home not giving fans that you know that excitement. You know what I mean? That’s it’s great to win a game on the road. Um, it’s great to win a game on the road and shut the crowd up, but like these fans, man, they put a lot into us. We we we put a lot into them obviously and we’re we we’ll we going to find a way. We are like, you know, but for me personally, like I like I said, this is, you know, a special place, special group, special people. Um, and we’re going to find a way. I mean, I I I know it’s been 8 years, but like we going to find a way. Use the word um help. Sorry. Can you give us some insight into what you were dealing with physically? Yeah, I mean I mean it came out I I didn’t want it to come out, but it came out that I had the calf strain. I tried to keep that as quiet as I could. um than the ligaments in the ankle. But like I said just now, like you’re going to have to knock me out before I don’t go out there. You know what I’m saying? So, um everybody’s going through something. This isn’t just like a Donovan. Oh, like you know what I mean? Like I get it. Like you know what I mean? I get I’m over there. Like I get it. But DG was hurt, Ed was hurt, Dre was hurt. You know, guys on the other team are hurt. Like it’s it’s the playoffs. Everybody’s going through something. Um it’s just a matter of you know will at that point on a continuous basis and not to say we don’t have that as a group we do. Um but for me it’s what it was and you know it sucks that I stepped on dude’s foot at the end of the season like you know I mean it’s just it’s a freak accident you know what I mean what what can you do like you know what I mean? So so it’s commendable and I want I want to preface it the right way. Yeah, I I want you to take it the right way. You had historic numbers and it’s commendable you’re putting your body on the line, especially with what you’re going through. But in a season where there’s a huge effort on your end to empower others, you know, promote their growth when you evaluate this series, do you feel like you maybe put too much on your shoulders or was it appropriate? And I understand the injuries of teammates that were probably in your mind too. Yeah. I mean, I think in situations like this, it’s it’s it’s tough. It’s easy to say, you know, oh, you know, this, that, and the fifth, but like, you know, guys are also going guys aren’t going to tell y’all what they’re going through, but guys are going through stuff. You know, understanding that, hey, you know, such and such may not have it the same way they had it during the games where we were, you know, so sometimes it may be, hey, it may be three extra shots for me because it may be three extra tribes to the paint. It may be, you know, different things. It’s not like a, oh, I’m just going to abandon what we’ve been doing. You know, there’s there’s reasons like, you know, I mean, there’s I mean, there’s there’s there’s reasons. And, you know, for me as my job, and I tell you all the time, like some days it’s a step back. Miami series, it wasn’t necessarily all this, you know what I mean? So, just it’s just reading. That’s my job as a leader. Um, not everybody’s going to understand that. I think that’s my job. That’s what I get paid. So, um, yeah, I think it’s it’s one of those things you kind of have to read the situation. You know what I’m saying? Understand? And I I I love to have on my guys for continuing to fight just like I’m fighting, you know what I mean? So, um Danny, in order for the result next post to be better than what it has been in the past two years, what do you think this group needs to improve the most? Um I think for us the margins little the little things upset loss you know we start the half off last game and for about three year and a half four minutes they’re a better basketball team or maybe not second half sorry second quarter I could be wrong excuse me I got that kind of So, we’re not we’re not the basketball team we were to be up 20 for those four minutes and then come back. Like I said to you, the lazy switch that I had on Hallebertton miscommunication on the wing two threes was six points right there. Like I said, I got a steal. I tried to go behind my back. That’s another possession going that way. Missing the free throws. Missed an easy layup. Obviously can’t dunk the ball cuz I’m hurt. But going a little bit faster to make a layup like the little things. That’s like probably 10 12 points I probably given to you right there in this game alone. You know what I mean? So those are like in in this in the playoffs, man. It’s the it’s like every little thing a free throw box up, you know? Um different like just it’s just so many little things. And that’s part of it, man. Like I said, these guys have been to the conference finals. They understand, you know, not to say we don’t, but they understand like, you know, the little things and they capitalized off of our mistakes. um you give them credit, but you also look at ourselves and like, hey, we we can be better in those situations and you know, we weren’t. Um that’s why we’re here. Are those little things things that can be improved in a regular season or those little things that you have to wait until next postseason to be able? I think it’s both. I think um you know, instead of losing three in a row, what did we lose? Four in a row during that stretch. Instead of losing four in a row, it’s two. You know, you look at a team like Boston, they’re a championship team. I don’t think they’ve lost three straight games in how long? Like there was a like they haven’t lost three straight games in a long time. Like that’s a championship switch. Like, you know what I’m saying? Um and I may be getting that wrong, but I I saw it somewhere. Somebody said something about it. Like it’s a championship level switch. You know what I mean? They um just understanding, you know, throughout the season, it’s going to be little things. You know, if the team goes on a 120 run, you know, it’s not 12, it’s six. You know what I mean? Like that’s you know that those are the little things and it just we weren’t able to do it during this postseason and for us to get there that’s what it’s going to take. Donovan compared to the Utah team that was topseated four years ago. Where do you feel like this team is at compared to maybe that one coming off? Um a little bit younger. It’s always great. Um, you know, I got Joe Engel’s old ass over here. No, I’m kidding. Um, no, I think we we I think I I’ve said this all year, like, you know, Evan Mobley, they ask me what’s the difference between Evan Mobley, like he’s continuing to grow. And I think he’s he’s a guy that, you know, next year coming in, um, is going to be even more important, even more crucial, trying to get him to be even more aggressive. And that just takes time. Like that’s something that, you know, when I was his age, it takes time. You have to continue to, you know, find a way. And I’m not putting this on him as a whole at all. But I think, you know, I can be better. DG can be better. Jay can be better. But the difference is we have a guy who is all NBA level talent, top five player in the league one day, and he’s continuing to grow into being that. and um we as a group need to as a whole be better. But um and he he takes this upon himself to take that challenge. He said it to me last night. He’s been he’s he’s locked in and ready for it. And not to say he wasn’t ready for it this year. He was he’s been phenomenal. He’s been everything we’ve asked of him since he got drafted. Um but the people always ask me what’s the difference between the two teams. And I say that dude right there be the best player on this team. Um he’s going to continue to take that step. Um it’s just unfortunate that as a group we weren’t able to do it. But you know as a we all continue to elevate. He’s going to continue to elevate and you’re going to be seeing him on every poster on every little everything all over because he said it himself. It’s going to be him and Victor and I believe that and he believes that and we believe that. Um and like I said, we’ll do what we need to do as well. Um and grow from there. Um, you’ve used the the word response so many times, talking about runs, talking about bouncing back from losses, having a full off season. How do you expect this team as a whole to respond to what just happened? Um, a fire, a hunger, but in all honesty, it won’t matter till April. Like, you know what I’m saying? Like and I think we know that, you know what I mean? I think I think I’ve been saying it. I think, you know, but I think we know that. We feel that. Like I said, y’all going to write us off. We could we could go 82 and0. No one would care. Like, you know what I’m saying? So, um I think just the fire, the winning in the margins, the little things. Um I have no doubt that, you know, guys will use this as fuel. Um because I know everybody in this locker room, I know where their makeup is and go from there. Hey, um why do you take so much responsibility on your shoulders for the loss and it seems like everything? Um, I feel like I’ve always a guy who feels like I could have done something better. And I don’t I think as a leader, you know, it’s it’s there’s so many different ways you can point to. You can point to the points, you can point to like, you know, the rebounds, the assists, the leadership. Like there’s so many things you can point to, but ultimately as being the guy, you know, with the success, you guys look at me with the failures. I you should look at me as well. Like, you know what I mean? That’s part of my job. Like, you know what I mean? Um, I feel like with this group, yeah, there’s 18 guys out there, but, you know, at the end of the day, they all look to me cuz that’s my job. And, you know, they hate that I do it. They wish I didn’t put all the blame on myself. Um my mom for sure hates it. Uh she wishes I a little lighter on myself, but I don’t know any other way. Like, you know what I mean? I I feel like um it’s, you know, it’s my job to to to to be the leader of this group. Um and not to say I don’t hold we don’t hold each other accountable um in the locker room behind closed doors and in the huddles. We do. And you know, it’s not just a oneman show up here cuz it’s not. We didn’t get here because of just Donovan Mitchell. You know what I’m saying? We’re not here because of just Donovan Mitchell. Um, but I also feel like, no disrespect to you guys in the room, some of you guys do an unfair job of scrutinizing guys who aren’t necessarily deserving of the scrutiny that they get. The guy go through a lot of things that people don’t speak on or don’t have the opportunity to speak in front of you guys every day and talk about it. You know what I mean? Um, I’m probably the more visual the most visual like in front of you guys the most. Um, so I feel like, you know, as a leader, that’s what my job is. Kenny mentioned last night that one of the next steps for you guys is mental resilience. What does that look like that next step for you? Yeah. Kind of what I was saying to Danny. It’s like it’s the it’s the little things like, you know, you don’t go on a 120 run. You don’t give up 12. It’s six. Like, you know, you don’t go six minutes without scoring. It’s three. you know, you don’t, you know, you don’t lose four in a row towards the end of the season when you’re trying to secure a playoff spot. You know what I mean? Like you you you figure those things out. So then, you know, you be like, “All right, I’m preparing myself to when we are up seven, you know, yeah, I’m cramping. I can’t move. Get get open, Don. You know, get the ball. Don’t elbow knee smith in the face. Box out the free throw line.” You know what I mean? or you know um we are up against Miami, we take care of business. Great. Be ready for game one, fellas. Like you know what I mean? Like let’s let’s get all let’s be ready. We took care of game three. Let’s be ready for game four. Like you know what I mean? So um that’s ultimately what it is. But a lot of it too sometimes is just you have to have that hurt. You know it’s unfortunate that some guys have had it longer than others. You know what I mean? It’s just but it’s the nature of what our roster is. We have young guys, we have old guys. And sometimes that’s what playoff spir experience is. And you saw that Miles Turner’s been playing for the Pacers since Braun was there. You know what I mean? And I’m not making that as an excuse in any way, shape, or form. But like Miles Turner is hungry. You saw him putting the Indiana like he’s hungry for that. Like, you know what I mean? There’s a cuz it’s like it’s hard, you know what I mean? And not to say we’re not hungry, but like there’s years of losing to LeBron James. That that does a lot to you. Like, you know, and respect to them and respect to him. You know, when like I said to Serena, when we get to where we want to get to, it’s going to be because of moments like this where we’re like sitting here like, damn, again, you know what I mean? Like that that’s part of the part of the the process. Yeah. Since this ended abruptly and you guys probably weren’t expecting to be in this position right now, for you as a leader of this team, as as you and the guys head out of this building into the offseason, is there something specifically you want each guy to take with them? The embarrassment. I hope we all feel it and I think we do. Like 64 win season, we were slated to be up here. We lost 4-1. We were the favorite. We were in the one seat. It’s It’s not like we were eight seed trying to beat the one seat. Like, we should feel that. You know what I mean? And that’s what I said to the guys in the locker room. Feel this. Embrace it. You know, like this is this is part of it. You can’t don’t run from this. Not to say we aren’t. We will. But like, yeah, it’s going to be a long it’s going to be a loud summer for like it’s going to be there be a lot of voices about what the Cavs are, what the Cavs should. It’s going to be a loud summer. I’ve been through a few of those. You know what I’m saying? So, use it as fuel because, you know, it’s the only thing you can do. Show up to work every day. Show up to the gym and keep keep going. Keep going. Um, and I have no doubt everybody will cuz everybody’s, you know, we’re a collective group. We’re we’re connected group. We’re a group that really wants it. And I have no doubt that we’ll use us. Ashley, you said you hadn’t slept. You’ve watched that game twice already. You said it’s going to be a loud summer. You’re already talking about criticism month. When it comes to you, how do you how do you how do you just take the time to just turn your brain off and just mentally just decompress and kind of shut everything out even though you know there’s going to be a lot of loudness around you. Are you learn? Um, you gonna laugh at this. Um, I mean, I’m I’m going on tour, okay? So, I get to, you know, listen to some good music and take some time and enjoy life and then get back to what I’ve been telling y’all. But yeah, I mean, I still have a life, like, you know what I mean? I still get to enjoy it, like you said. But yeah, I’m going on tour, listening to some good music, and then um get back in the gym. What’s that? Just good music. Good music. Last question, D. You can, you know, see everyone talking about everything. I haven’t watched this in a minute, too. I probably Yeah. All right, you’re good. You go throughout the summer and people, we all reflect on what happened. Do you think this team is still constructed to take that next step the way you guys are built currently? Yeah, I was waiting for that question. Yeah. Um, I think so. I think we have a group that, you know, you you look at and I’m not going to say it’s a direct comparison, but I used them as an example in the past. I’m going to do it again. It took Boston seven years, you know what I mean? It took him seven years with the core. I should say at least took him seven years to finally, you know, get there. this is, you know, takes time and obviously, yeah, there’s different tax scenarios and all those different things that come into it. That’s not my job. Um, but however, you know, we we have taken a step. You know, we have taken a step um you know, I’m not a moral victory person, but we have improved um in different facets. Maybe not in the ways that we all thought we were going to just go, but we have improved. So, I believe in everybody in this locker room. Like I said last night, um we believe in each other and we believe we have what it takes. But I’m sorry I keep saying it to you, but like we got to go out there and prove it at some point. You know what I mean? So, um but yeah, I believe what we have for sure.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell spoke with the media at Cleveland Clinic Courts to recap the 2024-25 season.