Donovan Mitchell is off to a red-hot start in his fourth season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it’s not going unnoticed. With Kenny Atkinson now at the helm, the Cavs’ new head coach has challenged Mitchell to elevate his game-and Mitchell has responded in a big way. He’s not just meeting expectations; he’s blowing past them, putting up numbers that have the NBA world buzzing.
Atkinson’s approach has clearly lit a fire under Mitchell. The All-Star guard is averaging 30.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game-elite numbers that reflect a player fully in command of his craft.
He’s not just scoring; he’s leading, creating, and defending with a purpose. It’s the kind of production that gets people talking, and in this case, it’s sparked a debate that’s brought some serious names into the conversation.
Former NBA guard Jeff Teague recently made waves by comparing Mitchell’s current level of play to none other than Dwyane Wade-specifically, the version of Wade who torched the league during the 2006 NBA Finals. That’s not just high praise-that’s legendary territory.
Teague’s take? Mitchell is already operating on that same tier.
But not everyone’s buying it.
Kendrick Perkins, never one to hold back, pushed back hard on Teague’s comparison. Speaking on The Road Show Tippin podcast, Perkins didn’t mince words.
“Teague lost his name. It’s not even a conversation, man,” Perkins said.
“Like, real talk, it’s just levels to certain things.”
Perkins went on to clarify that his stance isn’t a knock on Mitchell’s talent-far from it. He gave Mitchell his flowers as a top-tier regular-season performer but drew a clear line when it comes to postseason legacy.
“Donovan Mitchell will go down as one of the greatest regular-season players to ever play the game,” Perkins said. “But I can’t even put him in a conversation with D-Wade until he at least leads his team to a conference finals.”
That’s the crux of the argument. Regular-season dominance is one thing, but Wade’s legacy was built on playoff greatness-on clutch performances under the brightest lights, on leading a team to a championship as the undisputed alpha. That’s the bar.
Channing Frye, another former NBA champion, added his voice to the discussion with a more nuanced take. Frye acknowledged Mitchell’s superior shooting ability compared to Wade, calling him “a pure scorer.”
But when it comes to the all-around game, Frye gave the edge to the Heat legend. “Mitchell, as far as shooting, is far better than D-Wade.
Everything else, I think D-Wade dominates,” Frye said. “Rebounding, defending, blocking shots-it’s D-Wade.”
It’s a fair breakdown. Mitchell’s offensive skill set is as polished as they come, especially from the perimeter. But Wade was a different kind of force-relentless on both ends, a slasher who could change a game with a single possession, and a defensive menace who made his presence felt beyond the box score.
Mitchell, for his part, seems locked in. He’s playing arguably the best basketball of his career, and the Cavs are reaping the benefits.
He’s scoring efficiently, facilitating at a high level, and embracing the leadership role that comes with being the guy on a team with playoff aspirations. But as good as he’s been, the comparisons to Wade-particularly Finals MVP Wade-are a reminder of just how high the bar is for true NBA greatness.
No one’s saying Mitchell can’t get there. In fact, if he keeps trending the way he is, it might just be a matter of time.
But for now, as Perkins and Frye both pointed out, there are still boxes to check. Postseason success, deep playoff runs, signature moments when everything’s on the line-that’s where legends separate themselves.
Mitchell’s journey is far from over, and the way he’s playing, he’s writing a compelling chapter right now. But if he wants to be mentioned in the same breath as D-Wade, the next step is clear: dominate when it matters most.