Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell remains focused on team performance rather than playoff seeding, despite the Cavaliers’ strong 7-4 start to the 2025-26 NBA season.
“Would I love to be the No. 1 seed? Sure. But if we’re not, am I going to be panicking? No,” Mitchell said in an exclusive interview with D.J. Siddiqi of VideoGamer.
Mitchell has been a driving force for Cleveland, averaging 30.4 points per game on 51.4% shooting from the field and 40.4% from three-point range. His efficiency stands out, considering the Cavaliers have been missing key starters Darius Garland and Max Strus for much of the season.
“I’m playing 34-to-36 minutes a night, which is more than I played last year. So naturally my numbers are going to be higher,” Mitchell explained. He added that trusting his teammates and letting the game come to him has allowed him to be more effective.
Mitchell emphasized the importance of efficiency in his game. “The biggest thing is just maintaining that. Continuing to be that guy not just seven games, but also throughout the whole season,” he said, highlighting his commitment to sustained performance.
Reflecting on his career, Mitchell credited former Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder for helping him grow into a more complete player. “You start to see things differently. I understand the game a lot more, and that’s really what it is—how do I make the game easy for others and easy for myself?” he said.
The Cavaliers have displayed resilience despite injuries, with Mitchell leading the way. He stressed that entering the playoffs in peak form matters more than regular-season seeding. “It doesn’t really matter what you’ve done during the regular season. Would I love to be the number one seed? Yes. But playing our best basketball at the right time is what really matters,” Mitchell said.
Cleveland has shown balanced scoring through the first 11 games, with Mitchell topping 40 points in multiple contests and Evan Mobley contributing consistently in the paint. The team has navigated both home and road challenges, including an overtime loss to Miami on November 10, while maintaining a competitive standing in the Eastern Conference.
