Donovan Mitchell’s 71-point eruption against the Chicago Bulls on January 2, 2023 already lives in Cavaliers lore. Now Mitchell has added a new detail to the night: alcohol, he said, had a role in it.
In Cleveland’s 145-134 overtime win, Mitchell was nearly unstoppable. He finished with 71 points on 22-of-34 shooting, hit 7 of 15 from deep and went 20 of 25 at the line, all in 49 minutes.
That performance came not long after the Cavaliers brought Mitchell in from the Utah Jazz in 2022, and it remains one of the signature moments of his Cleveland run. He’s averaged 26.7 points per game in the regular season and 27.3 points per game in the playoffs in a Cavaliers uniform.
Mitchell’s rise in Cleveland has now been matched by a major financial commitment. This offseason, he signed a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension with the team.
The Cavaliers have also leaned into what Mitchell has meant beyond the box score. After he helped lead Cleveland to the Eastern Conference Finals last season - the franchise’s first trip to the conference finals since 1992 without LeBron James - the front office stayed loyal and rewarded him with the extension.
“Donovan has embodied exactly what it means to represent the Cleveland Cavaliers on and off the floor,” president of basketball operations Koby Altman said, via Cavaliers.com. “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.”
Mitchell, a seven-time All-Star, enters this season with career averages of 25.1 points per game in the regular season and 27.8 points per game in the playoffs across his time with Utah and Cleveland.
In Other News...
Koby Altmans Trade Record Just Got Even Harder For Cavs Fans To Defend
Koby Altman has never been shy about reshaping the roster, and his time running the Cavaliers has produced plenty of deals that still linger in the conversation around this team. The latest review of his tenure lays out how often Cleveland has been willing to move pieces, from high-profile swings to more subtle salary and rotation tweaks, with the results landing all over the map. It is a useful reminder that Altmans front office has often preferred action over caution, even when the return has not always matched the ambition.
The harder part for Cavs fans is sorting through the deals that have aged badly, especially when names like DeAndre Hunter, Darius Garland, James Harden, Ricky Rubio and Caris LeVert keep coming back into the discussion. Each trade tells a slightly different story about fit, timing and the cost of trying to stay competitive in the Eastern Conference, and together they have made Altmans record feel more volatile than some around the team would like to admit. With that kind of history attached, every new move gets judged not just on the present, but on whether it adds to a pattern Cleveland is still trying to outrun. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Carr Still Has A Place In Cleveland's New TV Picture
Austin Carr is staying in the Cavaliers broadcast mix, with Rock Entertainment Sports Network confirming hell return for the 2026-27 season after his absence from the teams initial TV announcement had created some uncertainty. The longtime Cavaliers voice will mostly work as a pregame and postgame analyst in the studio, keeping him in a familiar role around the franchise he has long represented.
Carr may also pop up courtside from time to time, giving the network a little flexibility in how it uses one of the most recognizable figures in Cleveland basketball coverage. For Cavaliers fans, the bigger takeaway is simple enough: one of the clubs most familiar media voices still has a place in the new TV picture, even if the rollout briefly suggested otherwise. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs' James Harden Had Fans Reacting To His Surprise Soccer Appearance
James Harden popped up in an unexpected place over the weekend, taking in the Arsenal-Chelsea Premier League matchup at Emirates Stadium from the suites. The Cavaliers guard watched a lively one from above as Arsenal rallied for a 2-1 win, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard delivering the goals after Chelseas Morgan Rogers opened the scoring.
Harden also made sure the visit was noticed, posting a message on his official X account praising the game. For a player whose travels tend to draw attention wherever he goes, the surprise soccer appearance gave fans another reminder that his offseason and downtime can become a story all by themselves, especially when they happen far from the NBA floor. [Read more 🡒]