The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Donovan Mitchell to a multi-year contract extension, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.
“Signing Donovan Mitchell to an extension serves as a pivotal moment for our franchise and reinforces our vision and goals for sustainable success,” said Altman. “Donovan is one of the most dynamic All-NBA players in the league and we couldn’t be more excited that he chose Cleveland and this community to continue his basketball journey. We want to align ourselves with the best teams in the NBA and ultimately compete for Championships, and we feel securing Donovan long-term provides us that opportunity.”
An Outstanding Season
Mitchell appeared in 55 games (all starts) this past season for Cleveland, averaging 26.6 points to go along with career-highs in assists (6.1), rebounds (5.1), steals (1.84), and blocks (0.55) in 35.3 minutes. He recorded a career-high six double-doubles and was selected to his fifth NBA All-Star appearance (second as a Cavalier). The seven-year guard joined LeBron James as the only players in franchise history to finish a season averaging at least 25.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists and post multiple seasons averaging at least 26.0 points. Mitchell also helped lead the Cavaliers to an appearance in the Eastern Conference Semifinals this past season for the first time since 2018. During the 2024 Playoffs, he averaged 29.6 points in 10 games, marking the sixth-highest scoring average in a single postseason in franchise history (minimum 10 games).
Stellar Monthly and Weekly Performances
The 6-3 guard earned NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors for the month of January, becoming the second player in franchise history (LeBron James, 26 times) to win the monthly award. Mitchell led the Cavs to an 11-2 record in January, averaging 28.6 points, 7.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.08 steals in 34.1 minutes. He also won NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of February 5-11, his third selection with the Cavaliers. His three selections are the third-most NBA weekly honors in franchise history, behind only James (42 times) and Kyrie Irving (four times).
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Consistent Excellence in Cleveland
Since joining the Cavaliers prior to the 2022-23 season, Mitchell is averaging 27.5 points, 5.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.62 steals in 35.6 minutes over two seasons in Cleveland. His 27.5 points per game average in Cleveland ranks as the highest scoring average in Cavaliers franchise history. Mitchell, an All-NBA Second Team selection in 2022-23, has tallied several historical performances and stretches since joining the Cavaliers, including a franchise-best 71-point performance on January 2, 2022, against Chicago, becoming the seventh player in NBA history with 70 or more points in a game. He also recorded 45 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a win versus Brooklyn in Paris, France, becoming the fifth player in NBA history (Michael Jordan, Bob McAdoo, Larry Bird, and David Robinson) and first player in Cavaliers history to record those totals in a game. Additionally, Mitchell ranks second in team history for 40-point games (18 games) and owns the second-longest streak of 20-point games (22 straight). Mitchell also has the 11th-most three-pointers made in Cavaliers history in just two seasons with the team (427 3FGM).
A Prolific Career
The No. 13 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by Denver, Mitchell has appeared in 468 career games (460 starts) with averages of 24.8 points, 4.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.38 steals in 34.2 minutes over seven NBA seasons with Cleveland and Utah. He was selected to the All-Rookie First Team following the 2017-18 season and has made the fifth-most three-pointers since entering the league (1,385 3FGM). Mitchell has also appeared in 54 postseason games (all starts) over his career, holding averages of 28.1 points, 5.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.28 steals in 37.6 minutes.
His playoff scoring average of 28.1 points ranks as the seventh-highest postseason scoring average in NBA history behind Michael Jordan (33.4), Luka Doncic (31.0), Allen Iverson (29.7), Kevin Durant (29.3), Jerry West (29.1), and James (28.4). Mitchell remains the only active NBA player with three 50-point playoff performances, including reaching that mark in Game Six of Cleveland’s First Round series at Orlando on May 3.
Future Prospects
Mitchell’s extension is a significant step for the Cavaliers as they look to build on their recent successes and aim for a championship. His leadership, performance, and dedication to the game make him an invaluable asset to the team and the community. The Cavaliers are poised for continued growth and success with Mitchell playing a central role in their journey. The future looks bright for both Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers as they strive for excellence in the NBA.
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