Donovan Mitchell on committing to Cleveland & the Cavs' new outlook

Yahoo Sports activities senior NBA author Vincent Goodwill spoke with the Cavaliers guard about his focus for the upcoming season, his expectations for the group underneath new head coach Kenny Atkinson and why he determined to signal an extension with Cleveland. Donovan joined Yahoo Sports activities on behalf of BodyArmor.

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Video Transcript

Be part of us on behalf of physique armor, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, becoming a member of us at present, Donovan, thanks for becoming a member of us, man.

Earlier than we get to physique armor, Donovan, you guys had an enormous profitable streak final yr earlier than you bought damage and I do know that kinda head to deflate your season as you went to the playoffs and you were not totally wholesome.

Is it a matter of you attempting to recapture that magic somewhat bit or is a complete new season bringing on a complete new set of challenges and personnel and all the things?

Um I feel that stretch actually confirmed us what we may be, you already know, at our greatest.

Um So simply persevering with to construct upon that, clearly making some tweaks and changes, um, however form of following that blueprint, you already know, with Kenny right here now, I feel it has been, you already know, simply coming in and being, being extra learn idea based mostly, persevering with to go on the market and make performs and form of play the sport with the, with one another, you already know what I imply?

And kinda discuss it out, uh clearly watch the movie on it and um simply proceed to construct upon that, that stretch that was an awesome stretch for us.

We discovered rather a lot about ourselves.

Um, and even through the playoffs, we study rather a lot about ourselves in methods we will, clearly, we weren’t wholesome as a complete.

However, you already know, when guys aren’t wholesome, you see different guys step into roles and that is form of what you noticed throughout that stretch.

Um, and I feel for us now, seeing, you already know, persevering with to construct upon it, um as a complete and form of having a path of what we wanna do offensively after which defensively proceed to be, you already know, the pest and menaces that we’re and simply proceed to be, you already know, one of many league’s finest with our two anchors, um behind us.

Yeah, I imply, you talked about the teaching change, Kenny Atkinson stepping in for Jamie Baker employees.

Have you ever seen any variations in the way in which that you simply guys are going to play possibly in comparison with the way in which the way in which you performed the previous couple of years or is it approach too early to see s techniques and all the things else to be applied?

Yeah, I feel, yeah, there’s undoubtedly some variations you discover off, I will not say an excessive amount of till individuals begin watching this play.

You already know what I imply?

Uh However I feel, you already know, you simply see, like I mentioned, it is extra idea, extra learn based mostly, you already know, um completely different actions, you already know, motion, you already know what I imply?

Not simply, you already know, stationary, various things like that and proceed to get the ball transfer.

However like I mentioned, that was after we had been at our greatest, um, throughout that stretch, uh, for these 3.5 months and even going form of going into the playoffs and, and never going into the playoffs proper earlier than, um, what was all of it star break?

Um, I feel that was, that was the largest factor simply persevering with to construct upon that.

Um And, you already know, that is, however that, I feel that is what Kenny noticed, that is what we see and simply persevering with to search out methods to execute that.

However we now have some, undoubtedly some adjustments for positive that I’ve observed uh provide it, Donovan for no matter motive, you are a lightning rod everytime you’re up without spending a dime company or one thing like that.

Individuals simply love speaking about the place Donovan desires to go, however you have saved it actually quiet.

You had a quiet low season, you resigned with Cleveland.

Like no, should no fuss.

How vital is it so that you can form of hold your personal noise down whereas nonetheless protecting your flexibility, ensuring that the group is shifting in the suitable path and simply not doing it so loudly.

Yeah, I imply, I’ve observed what I observed the yr earlier than I obtained traded, um to Cleveland, the yr I obtained traded to Cleveland was identical to all people’s gonna have their very own opinions, all people’s gonna have their very own ex specialists and sources and, you already know, I, I found out my very own commerce locations on-line.

I did not even know, you already know what I am saying?

So, like all people’s gonna have their, you already know, their stuff and also you kinda, simply, on the finish of the day I knew, you already know, I used to be coming again, you already know what I imply?

Shoot January, February.

Like, you already know what I imply?

Like, I, I, you already know, I imply, I, I knew off it, it was simply, it was, I instructed my teammates that all of us do.

It is only a matter of like, look, it is gonna be what it is gonna be, you already know, the brand new, the noise and all that stuff.

So, uh for me, I, such as you mentioned, simply persevering with to, to, to play profitable basketball.

That is all I, that is all I requested for.

That is all of the group requested for.

That is all all of us requested for simply to proceed to search out methods to win.

And that is, that is, that is my greatest factor.

So so far as the, the way forward for this goes, I am, I am right here in Cleveland.

I am excited and I am completely happy, you already know, I signed this contract for a motive.

I imagine in what we obtained.

Um And I imagine within the group’s um will to win and motivation to win in addition to myself.

In order that’s, that is the largest um issue for me.

Um However, however yeah, after 3.5 years of steady, what’s, what’s Donovan gonna do?

It is lastly good to form of not have to listen to that for somewhat bit.

Yeah, I imply, I can think about it is larger for everyone else than it’s for you, however you are right here on behalf of physique armor.

So, inform us about your reference to them.

Uh, yeah.

You already know, we have been, we have been working collectively for about 5 years and, you already know, for me, um, simply with the ability to align myself with a model that helps, you already know what I do on the ground.

You already know what I imply with the sports activities and a sports activities drink.

Um, it is humorous, the one drink we now have now could be sports activities water and that is most likely the one factor I’ve in my home, um, that I take advantage of, um, my household most likely drinks the, the, the sports activities drinks somewhat bit greater than I do.

However um simply persevering with to make use of a model that, you already know, it is simply wholesome, that is my greatest factor is well being and be clearly, you already know, being in an, an athlete, you need to have stuff that aligns together with your well being and to have the ability to work with a model that, you already know, clearly obtained the alkaline water, you bought the electrolytes, you bought all these various things within it.

Um That undoubtedly helps you turn out to be a greater, effectively, helps to, to, to, to assist your food regimen and assist your gas so you’ll be able to turn out to be a greater participant.

Um So it was a no brainer after we first began and you already know, it has been nice ever since I recognize you.

And thanks once more, Donovan, on behalf of physique armor, man, I actually recognize the time, man.

Respect you.

Thanks a lot, man.

Good to see you.

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