Donovan Mitchell on staying with 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 workforce 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.

View extra

Video Transcript

Be a part of us on behalf of physique armor, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, becoming a member of us right now, 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 12 months earlier than you bought harm 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 slightly bit or is an entire new season bringing on an entire new set of challenges and personnel and the whole lot?

Um I believe that stretch actually confirmed us what we might be, , 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, , with Kenny right here now, I believe it has been, , simply coming in and being, being extra learn idea primarily based, persevering with to go on the market and make performs and form of play the sport with the, with one another, what I imply?

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

We discovered quite a bit about ourselves.

Um, and even through the playoffs, we study quite a bit about ourselves in methods we are able to, clearly, we weren’t wholesome as an entire.

However, , 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 believe for us now, seeing, , persevering with to construct upon it, um as an entire and form of having a route of what we wanna do offensively after which defensively proceed to be, , the pest and menaces that we’re and simply proceed to be, , 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 perhaps in comparison with the way in which the way in which you performed the previous couple of years or is it means too early to see s techniques and the whole lot else to be applied?

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

You understand what I imply?

Uh However I believe, , you simply see, like I mentioned, it is extra idea, extra learn primarily based, , um totally different actions, , motion, what I imply?

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

However like I mentioned, that was once 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 believe that was, that was the most important factor simply persevering with to construct upon that.

Um And, , that is, however that, I believe that is what Kenny noticed, that is what we see and simply persevering with to seek out methods to execute that.

However we now have some, undoubtedly some adjustments for certain that I’ve seen uh supply it, Donovan for no matter cause, you are a lightning rod everytime you’re up totally free company or one thing like that.

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

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

Like no, should no fuss.

How necessary is it so that you can form of preserve your individual noise down whereas nonetheless preserving your flexibility, ensuring that the group is transferring in the correct route and simply not doing it so loudly.

Yeah, I imply, I’ve seen what I seen the 12 months earlier than I received traded, um to Cleveland, the 12 months I received traded to Cleveland was similar to everyone’s gonna have their very own opinions, everyone’s gonna have their very own ex consultants and sources and, , I, I found out my very own commerce locations on-line.

I did not even know, what I am saying?

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

Shoot January, February.

Like, what I imply?

Like, I, I, , I imply, I, I knew off it, it was simply, it was, I advised my teammates that all of us do.

It is only a matter of like, look, it is gonna be what it is gonna be, , 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 workforce requested for.

That is all all of us requested for simply to proceed to seek 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 pleased, , I signed this contract for a cause.

I consider in what we received.

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

In order that’s, that is the most important 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 slightly 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 understand, we have been, we have been working collectively for about 5 years and, , for me, um, simply having the ability to align myself with a model that helps, what I do on the ground.

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

Um, it is humorous, the one drink we now have now’s sports activities water and that is most likely the one factor I’ve in my home, um, that I exploit, um, my household most likely drinks the, the, the sports activities drinks slightly bit greater than I do.

However um simply persevering with to make use of a model that, , it is simply wholesome, that is my greatest factor is well being and be clearly, , being in an, an athlete, it’s a must to have stuff that aligns along with your well being and to have the ability to work with a model that, , clearly received 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, nicely, helps to, to, to, to assist your food regimen and assist your gas so you possibly can turn out to be a greater participant.

Um So it was a no brainer once we first began and , 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.

Shut