Facing his former team for the first time since being traded from the Jazz to the Cavaliers over the offseason, Donovan Mitchell scored a team-high 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting on Monday, leading the Cavs to a 23-point victory.
Utah’s leading scorer on the night, with 24 points, was forward Lauri Markkanen, who was traded by Cleveland in the Mitchell blockbuster. Mitchell’s and Markkanen’s strong performances were the latest indication that the deal seems to be working out pretty well for both teams so far.
“It looks a like a win-win to me, and you love to see something like that,” Mitchell said, per Tony Jones of The Athletic. “It’s good to see Lauri doing his thing and the Jazz playing well. I’m happy in Cleveland, so sometimes, these kinds of things work out for the best.”
As Kelsey Russo of The Athletic writes, besides providing the Cavaliers with some much-needed scoring punch on the court, Mitchell has impressed his new teammates and coaches in Cleveland with his character off the court.
“I would love people to understand what type of human being he is,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He’s an unbelievable person to be around every day. Ups, downs, roundabouts, eight-game winning streak, five-game losing streak, he never changed. And he was always uplifting, he was always positive, and he’s always thinking about other people first, and to me, that’s more important than all this put the ball in a basket stuff. Because those are the types of people you want to surround yourself with, and those are the types of people, and you see it, his teammates want to play with him and play for him because he’s that type of person.”
Before he and the Cavs hosted the Jazz on Monday, Mitchell spoke to Marc J. Spears of Andscape about being traded, the differences between Cleveland and Utah, the Cavs’ potential ceiling, and several other topics. The Q&A, which includes Mitchell’s explanation for why his time in Salt Lake City was sometimes “draining” off the court, is worth checking out in full, but here are a few of the highlights:
On his relationship with former Jazz co-star Rudy Gobert:
“Honestly, basketball just didn’t work. We live in such a world where it has to be really negative. Basketball just didn’t work. We didn’t see eye to eye. We wanted to both win, but we wanted to do it two different ways. It didn’t work. But as far as him and I go as people, I don’t hate him, and he doesn’t hate me. I wouldn’t say we’re the best of friends, but we’re not at the point where it’s like, I can’t stand him. … There’s no hatred. There’s no ill will towards any of that. Basketball just didn’t work out. It happens.
“… Honestly, it really started with COVID. Everything we did up to that point was under microscope to the point where we were getting evaluated on how many times we threw the ball (to each other). And that’s unfortunate, but it’s the reality of it. And it just didn’t work. I wish it did. I wish we went farther. We had the opportunity, but we didn’t. And we’re both in different spots now. But I want to wish him the best and I know he feels the same way.”
On when he realized the end was near in Utah:
“Realistically when we lost (to the Mavs in last season’s playoffs). You just felt it early. I didn’t think it would be this immediate. I didn’t think it would be everything. But I knew something was going to change this summer. I didn’t know what. And then with (head coach) Quin (Snyder) leaving I was like, ‘Oh, OK.’ And then Rudy getting traded, it’s like, ‘All right, let’s go.'”
On whether he thinks the Jazz should retire his No. 45 jersey:
“I don’t think I did enough. I hold myself to a high standard. Now, other people may feel that it should. I’d be happy and forever grateful, honored and blessed for sure for that to happen. But I don’t think I’ve done enough in five years to have my jersey up there with Karl (Malone), John (Stockton), Pistol Pete (Maravich), and Darrell Griffith. I got a long way in my career to go to continue to be better.”
If you ever been to Utah you would know what he means by his statement. They do not like out of staters in Utah. Drive a car with out of state plates and you can get ran off the road. Also if you are not a member of their church they do not socialize with you. I experienced the hate for anyone outside of SLC community.
Yep.
Typical hater. The truth is…there are parts of Utah where this might happen with some people, but in general…Utahns are very accommodating. One thing you have to understand is that they don’t smoke or drink…their idea of fun is just different. They sometimes makes it difficult for people to socialize with those that do. They live in a bubble…anything that is different is hard to get used to, but they doesn’t make them bad people. You’re just as bad as “those people” by even making these comments
They don’t hate out of state people, they’ve just been burned by people from other places moving there and trying to change everything to their laws, like the liquor laws is a big one, taxes, housing prices, and various other things to make it like everywhere else.
The Mormon Pioneers didn’t flee persecution and death just so outsiders could come in and want to change everything back from what they fought for. Instead the newbies don’t even try to understand the local perspective and selfishly just think Utah is weird and make fun of it from the inside and publicly.
Honestly, I think it would’ve been better if Utah was its own country. It’s always been self-sufficient and one of the best economies with the lowest unemployment rates consistently. Could be like a Switzerland in Europe. Could negotiate a Japan-like situation where Utah has its own military but allows the US to have bases there for mutual benefit.
Utah should be it’s own country to preserve it’s Mormon values…. This is a wild take
Thank you. It’s not really necessary right now, but it would be nice for things like housing prices. Lol
I don’t think Utah has any local oil sources for lower gas prices. However, Sinclair does have a local gas refinery. Not sure if it’s still there.