Donovan Mitchell: 5x NBA All Star on Cavaliers Win Streak, how team learned from losses, leadership in adversity, ode to his grandma, family sacrifice, personal life in public eye and Spida in Skims

Nov 19, 2024

Donovan Mitchell, a 5x NBA All-Star and leader of the Cleveland Cavaliers, shares insights on his team's historic 15-game winning streak. He discusses the importance of leadership and teamwork, attributing their success to Coach Atkinson's team-first mentality. Mitchell reflects on personal milestones, including honoring his grandmother's sacrifices and giving back to his community. He opens up about navigating public life and the pressures that come with fame, emphasizing the role of resilience in both basketball and life.

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ANECDOTE

Benched to Breakthrough

Donovan Mitchell recalls getting benched in a college game on December 31, 2016, which he considers a pivotal moment.
This fueled him to achieve a career-high performance in the subsequent game, changing his trajectory.

INSIGHT

Bridging Worlds

Growing up navigating between a low-income neighborhood and affluent Brewster Academy exposed Mitchell to cultural differences and socioeconomic disparities.
This shaped his perspective and motivates him to promote education and opportunity for underprivileged youth.

ANECDOTE

Imposter Syndrome and Hunger

Despite his privileged background, Mitchell experienced imposter syndrome while playing basketball with kids from less fortunate circumstances.
He credits this as a source of his work ethic and his drive to create opportunities for others.

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"I didn't expect to be Donovan Mitchell...It all started with a dream on a boat."

Donovan Mitchell is making history this NBA season, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to unprecedented heights. With a record-breaking 15-game winning streak, the team is off to its best start in franchise history, surpassing even the heights of the LeBron era.

As the Cavs embark on this historical start to the season, the 5x NBA All Star sits down with Ryan, Fred, and Channing to unpack what’s fueling the Cavs’ dominance this season, shedding some insight on the team's mentality, lessons learned through past losses and what the future holds on this episode of The Pivot Podcast in partnership with Fanatics.

Mitchell highlights the team-first mentality instilled by Coach Atkinson, whose philosophy of playing with pace and building good habits has created a winning environment. While he understands the undefeated record won't last forever, Mitchell opens up about the unique chemistry in the Cleveland locker room, where egos are left at the door and players genuinely root for one another—a dynamic that Mitchell believes will help them achieve something special and push through times of adversity.

But basketball is just part of Mitchell’s story that we discuss in this conversation as the All Star reflects on personal milestones he's accomplished in his 28 years of life, from buying his mom a house to fulfilling a childhood dream to opening an athletic center at his alma mater hoping to inspire the next generation. In an emotional moment of reflection, Mitchell shares how his grandmother paved the way for him and his family to have the opportunity to turn big dreams into reality, never forgetting where he came from. He shares how growing up between a low-income neighborhood in NYC and the affluent Brewster Academy in Connecticut shaped his work ethic and exposed him to the world, teaching him the value of opportunity and harsh reality of culture and status.

The guys go back to Mitchell's college years where his pride in his roots and his admiration for fellow Louisville star, Lamar Jackson, as Mitchell's inspiration from the quarterback originated by him having a front row seat to Jackson's success and rise from an underestimated prospect to 2x NFL MVP. But with all the highs and accolades earned, Mitchell opens up about the lessons he’s learned from tough losses- especially during his time with the Utah Jazz- and how those moments have made him a stronger player and better leader. Now, as he steers the Cavs through a historic season, Mitchell is focused on leaving a legacy that extends beyond the court, using his platform to empower others and make a lasting impact.

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