As speculation swirls around a potential return of LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers, star guard Donovan Mitchellis staying grounded.
With LeBron’s free agency looming and rumors of a possible homecoming dominating headlines, Mitchell was asked directly about the idea of teaming up with the four-time champion.
“As a LeBron fan, man, to be able to be his teammate would be special. But that’s not something that’s in my control,” Mitchell said on Sirius XM Radio. “There’s always gonna be reports, it’s natural, and it’s gonna be a thing. But my main focus right now is trying to get this championship. Whatever happens, it happens; that’s not up to me or anybody in this locker room. I’m big on believing what I can control.”
While Mitchell acknowledged the excitement around the possibility, he made it clear that his attention is on the present — especially after Cleveland’s recent blockbuster moves.
Focused on Winning Now
Instead of looking ahead to what LeBron might decide this summer, Mitchell emphasized building chemistry with newly acquired star James Harden.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s LeBron James, but at the end of the day, that’s not my focus. I’m not here to worry about that. My focus is just on that we just traded for James Harden, Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, let’s try to find a way to get a ring and go from there.”
The Cavaliers reshaped their roster by adding Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis for depth, but it’s the Harden addition that could redefine their ceiling this season.
What Harden Taught Mitchell
Mitchell and Harden have history. From early Adidas trips to playoff battles, Mitchell studied Harden’s craft long before becoming his teammate.
“The first thing he taught me was how to travel on the step-back,” Mitchell joked. “Being able to be around him early on in my career, in our Adidas trips and losing to him in the playoffs for two consecutive years, you learn a lot about the manipulation of the game, how to attack coverages, how to find different ways to score, and different ways to create for people. He and Chris Paul were able to give me that guidance, so it’s wild that here we are to be teammates and to be in this situation to hopefully go out there and win a championship.”
Mitchell highlighted Harden’s ability to “manipulate” defenses — a skill that separates elite scorers from great ones. Learning how to read coverages, bait defenders, and create opportunities has clearly influenced Mitchell’s evolution into one of the league’s premier offensive threats.
A Real Contender in the East?
After winning five straight heading into the All-Star break, Cleveland sits fourth in the Eastern Conference, just 1.5 games back from the second seed. While the LeBron rumors dominate national conversation, the Cavaliers’ championship hopes rest largely on their core trio of Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
If that group stays locked in — and Harden integrates smoothly — Cleveland could be one of the toughest outs in the East this spring.
For now, Mitchell’s message is simple: the future can wait. The focus is on winning — with or without LeBron.
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