Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell believes this season could be special, hinting that the team will win the championship. However, the riders are currently working through growing pains.
“Yes, I have no interest in the road [discussion]. But like I said, we have a lot of potential with this team,” Mitchell told The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
A few NBA betting sites are giving the Cavaliers seventh-best odds to win the championship in 2023. See which sportsbooks offer the highest odds for the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets.
.@cayleighgriffin It shows just how special Donovan Mitchell’s first 10 games in the wine and gold have been.#Know pic.twitter.com/iRyfG7uqHa
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) November 12, 2022
“We’ve got a lot of guys who can really go,” Mitchell said. “We can build something really special. And that’s really what I’m looking forward to. I can’t control what our results are in June, May, our playoff success, our future success.
In 11 games this season, Mitchell is averaging 31.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals. He is also shooting 51.3% from the field and 43.4% from downtown.
Darius Garland is off to a slow start this season, but has missed five games since Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. put his eye on him in the Cavaliers’ season opener.
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell said the team has ‘a lot of great pieces’ and ‘can build something really special.’
So far, Garland is averaging 16.2 points, 2.3 boards, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Not to mention, he’s shooting 35.2% from the floor and 30.8% from 3-point range.
With the Cavaliers firing on all cylinders, they could be the best team in the Eastern Conference.
“But now we have a lot of great pieces,” Mitchell continued. “And I can’t sit here for two or three years and give you anything. This is one thing I’m really excited about this summer.
The struggling Timberwolves’ next stop is Cleveland, where they will see Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell for the first time since their Utah run ended. In a meeting with his former colleague, Gobert said: pic.twitter.com/2DEe1MqYm1
— Tim McMahon (@espn_macmahon) November 12, 2022
“So I said, ‘What the f—k is going to fk tomorrow. Fk next day. How can I – excuse my language, of course – but how can I be the best Donovan today and let the rest take care of itself?’ It means I have things to prove myself. I have to go on better.”
On Friday night, the Cavaliers lost 106-101 on the road against the Golden State Warriors. Mitchell recorded his second double-double of the season. He collected 29 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 38 minutes of action.
Next, Cleveland plays the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at 6pm ET. This could be another special win for the Cavaliers.
Mitchell will be reunited with former Utah Jazz teammate Rudy Gobert for the first time since both players were traded during the playoffs.
As a reminder, the Timberwolves are 1-6 in their last seven games.
