Donovan Mitchell is Loyal to The Land

After winning 64 games the previous season, the Cavaliers had to claw their way to 52 victories this past year, battling the injury bug from opening night. But Mitchell never made excuses for the team, often assuming (too much) responsibility for its struggles. Through it all, he kept the club focused on the bigger picture. In the postseason, Head Coach Kenny Atkinson called his superstar guard the team’s “guiding light.” 

After steering the Cavs through a challenging regular season, Mitchell continued to push the squad in the 2026 Playoffs – averaging 26.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.17 steals over the 18-game run. He topped the 30-point mark six times, including a 43-point masterpiece in Game 4 against Detroit in the Eastern Conference Semis – trying an NBA record with 39 points in the second half of the 112-103 victory. 

Over the course of his career, Mitchell has been as consistently great in the playoffs as he’s been in the regular season. He’s scored at least 30 points in nine straight series openers – longest mark in NBA history – and his postseason scoring average (27.8ppg) ranks him 7^th all-time.

But as mind-blowing as Mitchell’s numbers have been, he’s meant so much more to the organization than just putting the ball in the basket. The 29-year-old New York native has been the team’s leader on and off the floor. He’s beloved by the fans and the media. He shifts praise to his teammates during successful times and takes disproportionate accountability when the squad hits rough waters. He’s been fully committed to Cleveland from the day he arrived. He’s fully embraced each of these roles. 

On the cusp of the NBA Finals for the first time in almost a decade, the Cavs brass likely still have some work to do as the offseason hits the halfway point. But securing their superstar guard in his prime is an excellent place to start. 

On Thursday afternoon – with the squad prepping for their Summer League slate in Vegas – the Cavaliers officially announced the contract extension of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell – the team’s unquestioned leader since his arrival just before Training Camp in 2022. 

From that day – after being acquired in a deal with Utah that sent Ochai Agbaji, Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and three First Round picks – Mitchell has been everything the Wine & Gold hoped he’d be - and more. And now, the seven-time All-Star will remain in a Cavs uniform into the foreseeable future. 

Originally selected by Denver with the 13^th overall pick out of Louisville back in 2017, Mitchell hit the ground running at the NBA level. He’s averaged at least 20.0 points per game in each of his first nine seasons, reaching the postseason in all nine and earning an All-Star selection in each of the last seven years. In three of the last four seasons, he’s been named All-NBA First or Second Team. 

In the four years before Mitchell’s arrival, the Cavs averaged 26 wins with a winning percentage of .342. With Donovan in the fold, Cleveland’s averaged 54 wins a year with a .655 winning percentage. And he’s been the model of consistency and durability over that stretch. Injuries limited him to 55 appearances in the 2023-24 campaign, but he’s averaged 70 games in each of the other three seasons as a Cavalier. 

“Donovan has embodied exactly what it means to represent the Cleveland Cavaliers on and off the floor,” said Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman. “From day one, he embraced this organization, our fans, and our community. Through SPIDACARES and his work with the team, he’s made a lasting impact on this city that reaches far beyond basketball. He’s been clear in his desire to be here, and that speaks volumes about who he is. His leadership, competitive fire and professionalism have helped define our culture and the standard for wearing a Cavaliers uniform. Securing Donovan long term reflects our shared vision and our commitment to building toward another NBA championship in Cleveland.”

Last season, Mitchell – who’d never advanced past the Second Round of the playoffs – guided the Cavaliers the Conference Finals for the first time since 2018. In the regular season, the 6-3, 215-pound guard averaged 27.9 points, 5.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.49 steals. He scored at least 20 points in 55 games, with 34 outings of at least 30 points and six games topping the 40-point plateau. 

And he did his best offensive work when it mattered most – leading the league in second-half scoring (15.9 PPG) while ranking 4^th in fourth-quarter production (7.7 PPG).

In his four seasons as a Cavalier, he ranks second in franchise history in 30-point games (105) and 40-point games (25) and trails only LeBron James in scoring average (26.7 PPG).