Donovan Mitchell scored 48 points and nine assisted performances in Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Cleveland Cavaliers from falling 0-2 holes in a narrow 120-119 loss.
Mitchell’s heroic efforts were lonely without his key teammates Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and DeAndre Hunter, but his glow has not produced the buzz that is typically associated with such playoff domination.
Former NBA sixth man of the year Leu Williams provided insight into why Mitchell was not mentioned along with NBA elite guards such as Stephen Curry, Lucadon Sic, Shy Gilgauss Alexander and Anthony Edwards.
“In Utah, he was part of the conversation with the top guard, but when he moved to Cleveland, he became part of the duo,” Williams explained on the Run It Back Podcast.
Williams compared Mitchell’s situation to another star tandem. “He’s now a Jason Tatum-Jaylen Brown type.
In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell shares the backcourt with fellow All-Star Darius Garland, with both security guards posting very similar numbers.
Mitchell and Garland average 20 points, 5+ assists, and 1+ steel per game to create statistical symmetry that leads to inevitable comparisons rather than individual recognition.
This balanced production is exactly why Williams sees similarities to Boston’s Tatum Brown dynamics. There, individual glows get lost at times in the “duo” conversations.
Interestingly, Williams noted that even superstars with elite teammates have avoided being classified as part of the duo in some way.
“Even Steph, you add Jimmy Butler. Luka is added next to LeBron, but they are not actually considered a duo,” Williams observed, highlighting the contradictions of the NBA star’s perception.
Despite the “dou” story, Williams firmly believes that Mitchell belongs to the NBA’s elite conversations. “Otherwise, the talent is there, and the impact is there, the All-Star Caliber guy, superstar. He needs to mention that (list),” Williams insisted.
“But the only thing is that he is part of the duo’s conversation. Instead of being considered a solo guy, he mentioned who is the best duo,” Williams concluded.
Mitchell has mostly carried the Cavaliers himself, and his playoff performance may ultimately earn him the recognition he deserves.