“It sucks”: Donovan Mitchell breaks silence on injuries mental toll amid Cleveland’s rough stretch

Despite Donovan Mitchell’s return, the Cleveland Cavaliers were unable to secure back-to-back wins against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday evening (April 3).

Since late February, they have continued to struggle in their attempts to achieve consecutive victories.

After the game, Donovan Mitchell addressed the media and discussed his mental and physical well-being during Cleveland’s losing streak leading up to the playoffs.

“As much as it sucks, I have to be patient. I was happy with how I came out in the second half and how I felt. Continue building on that. It wasn’t perfect, obviously,”he said.

He went on to say:

“But we’re at our best when I’m aggressive and continuing to get downhill. Saw it in spurts. Just trying to get back into my flow.”

Upon his comeback, Donovan Mitchell finished the game with a total of 24 points, three rebounds and two assists. He also added two steals and two blocks, while shooting 8 of 17 from the field at a 47.1% accuracy. He made 2 of 7 shots from beyond the arc at 28.6% and was perfect from the free throw line, going 6 for 6.

Despite this, he noticed that his net rating was -8, placing him as the third-highest among the starting lineup.

Mitchell’s Injury History Leading Up to the 2023-24 Season

During his time with the Utah Jazz a few seasons ago, Mitchell faced a similar obstacle. In the 2020-2021 season, he had to deal with not being able to play in the last 16 regular-season games and Utah’s first playoff game due to a tear in three ligaments in his right ankle.

Mitchell was suddenly thrown into the intensity of the playoffs, an experience he is determined to avoid in the future. He had no opportunity to reestablish his rhythm or previous level of play before the playoffs began, leaving him with no time to overcome any rust, improve, or work through any challenges he faced.

Although he recognizes the difficult timing of his injury and how it has affected his performance, Mitchell takes comfort in his prior time in Utah. Despite the struggles he faced then, it gave him a valuable outlook on his current knee problem. He stated:

“Having to mentally fight through that has helped prepare me for this and allowed me to understand to give myself grace.”

He went on:

“In my head, that allowed me to sit back and allow myself to get rest. But it’s tough. It’s tough. Not the easiest thing in the world. Mentally, you have to continue to push. I will get there. I’m confident in that. Gotta be patient and just be 1% better every day with this.”

The Mystery Behind Donovan Mitchell’s Absence

Since the break, the All-Star guard has played in just seven games, missing seven due to a left knee bone bruise and an additional six due to a broken nose.

Mitchell had returned to the court for two consecutive games in March, following a 13-game absence due to injuries. Despite his efforts, he only averaged 12.5 points per game and had a 28% field goal accuracy.