Donovan Mitchell: I get paid a lot of money to play basketball, but what comes with that is the criticism of like, hey, can Donovan do it? Like that’s going to be the question because when we win, it’s that’s just how it works. I think there’s a world where people are definitely excited to see you fail. I think that’s just sports. I don’t think that’s just I think it’s life, but also sports. I also know there’s a bunch of people in Cleveland and other cities I know rooting for it to happen. So for me not really getting consumed by that and understanding like, hey, you know, this loss definitely messed me up a little bit, you know what I mean? More so than most years. And that’s what it’s going to take for it to not happen again. And I made the joke after the end of the year like this could happen eight more times. I’m not going to stop.
Source: YouTube
Source: YouTube
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Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Jordan Clarkson’s buyout with the Utah Jazz is now officially done, League Sources tell The Athletic. This officially ends the Donovan Mitchell/Rudy Gobert era of the franchise. As a reporter, I’m going to miss covering JC. One of the coolest dudes around – 3:09 PM
Jordan Clarkson’s buyout with the Utah Jazz is now officially done, League Sources tell The Athletic. This officially ends the Donovan Mitchell/Rudy Gobert era of the franchise. As a reporter, I’m going to miss covering JC. One of the coolest dudes around – 3:09 PM
More on this storyline
Donovan Mitchell: “I always say it — Evan doesn’t even know what he is yet. I’ve seen it in flashes. The Boston series, when I was out — he was him. Defensive Player of the Year at 23. First-Team All-Defense. But offensively? He’s just scratching the surface. He has it. Now, it’s about aggression, consistency, demanding the ball. That’s what I keep telling him: ‘No, we need more. Demand it. If I don’t pass you the vote, get on my ass. If DJ don’t give you the vote, get on his ass. If Ty don’t get it to you, get on his ass.’ And be okay with that. You know what I mean? And um I think that’s something that he’s continuing and he’s ready for it. I have no doubt.” -via YouTube / July 2, 2025
Donovan Mitchell: “I tell people all the time that was the first year in about five years where there was not a question of where is Donovan Mitchell going next. You know what I mean? Like and I was in Utah it was like where’s he going next? When I was in Cleveland he wasn’t. I was like I’m not staying. Oh, I’m not staying. He’s not staying. And then it became like after every win, after every loss, we go on a losing streak. It’s like oh this is why he’s leaving. You know what I mean? And I think it became it just became a lot. And I didn’t realize it in the moment. when you’re in it, you don’t really notice how much that really like, you know, stresses you in life. And not necessarily always in a bad way, but it’s just like it’s always on your mind. It’s on your teammates’s mind. That teammates got to answer these questions. My coach has got to answer these questions. You know, GM, everybody’s got to answer the question of like, where’s he going? What’s he doing? Um, even though I knew I was staying, even though they knew I was staying, it’s just still a topic of conversation. You know what I mean? I think for me, just being able to call a place home and be there and want to be there and be like, ‘All right, cool. This is this is where I’m at.’” -via YouTube / July 2, 2025
Donovan Mitchell: “Everybody wants to sacrifice until it’s their turn. I think that’s the one thing I learned and it’s like what are you willing to do to win? You know what I mean? And I think there’s growing pains in that, you know what I mean? I think this was a growing pain, you know, losing the way we we did. But looking at the season as a whole, you know, there was a lot of progression in a lot of fronts by a lot of people in our group, you know, and I think and that’s something for me and even myself, you know what I mean? I think it’s something that, you know, I’m not going to say I, oh, because of me, Evan did this or DG did that. Like, no, they they worked their tails off in their own right to be who they are. But I think for them, for me, them allowing me to lead in that way, I think, was was special, you know what I mean? I think for for me, um, as a leader, you can only lead if guys allow you to, you know what I mean? They could easily just be like, ‘No, you’re not listening to what you got to say, whatever.’ So, I I have the utmost respect for for my teammates in that regard for allowing me to do that.” -via YouTube / July 2, 2025