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Jamal Collier
on the third training camp day, cleveland cavaliers Took a break from the basketball court. It was October 2, a humid, 87-degree afternoon in Bradenton, Florida, where the Cavs were hosting camp at the IMG Academy, a multisport facility that coach Kenny Atkinson likened to an Olympic village.
Atkinson’s goal was to create a training camp that focused on more than basketball, breaking up the monotony that occurs during a long season and giving the Cavs a chance to form bonds that they would rely on throughout the season.
And so it happened that he took the team to the track for a cardio-focused workout in the afternoon. It was right near the baseball field.
jaylon tysonThe second-year guard, who was pushed into the starting lineup due to injuries, challenged the team’s star, Donovan MitchellTo meet him on the diamond, guaranteeing that he can get a hit from him.
The entire team joined him.
Mitchell took the mound. His father, Donovan Sr., played baseball in the minors and worked with the Mets for the past two decades, and he passed his love of the game on to his son. Mitchell played baseball during high school and insisted that he could play professionally.
Tyson, after some setbacks, finally made contact, a false tip, but it soon turned into batting practice for the entire team.
With his baseball background, Mitchell was the only player the team trusted. When it was Mitchell’s turn to hit, and a few members of the IMG Academy were available to toss, the Cavs star hit two home runs — the Cavs’ version of Shohei Ohtani, at least among a group of whoppers.
“Just showing off a little bit,” Mitchell told ESPN. “Showing what I can do.”
Mitchell is showing what he can do for the Cavs in his fourth season. This also marks the fourth year for Michelle’s iconic original, evan mobley, jarrett allen And darius garlandA quartet that has turned the Cavs into contenders again in the Eastern Conference.
But Mitchell still has never played in the conference finals as the Cavs have missed the playoffs the past two seasons and lost in the semi-finals.
In 2024, they lost in five games boston celticsWho won the NBA Championship. The Cavs fired their coach, JB Bickerstaff, that summer and hired Atkinson.
In Atkinson’s first season, led a 64-win blitz and sweep of the regular season. Miami Heat In the first round of the playoffs, Cleveland was looking to return to the Finals. But then the Cavs were sent off again in Round 2, ending a five-game losing streak Indiana Pacers As the Cavs’ lineup was disrupted by injuries to Garland, Mobley and deandre hunter,
It was a different kind of monotony – not something that could be solved with a scheduling tweak.
Hunter repeated it The series ran through his mind all summer, watching hours of tape to identify issues, gaps to fill. He left out the win but focused on the loss.
He came to a revealing, but perhaps unsatisfactory, conclusion.
“It was more mental than anything,” Hunter told ESPN. “Game 1, that’s the game we should win. We win that game and the series is completely different. We were mentally weak at times, and they were mentally strong.”
The Pacers took an early 11-point lead in Game 1 on Cleveland’s home field, then finished the fourth quarter on a 20–10 run to win.
Hunter added, “I don’t think it was anything physical. I don’t think it was a skill difference.” “I really think it was all mental.”
Once again, according to ESPN BET, Cleveland began the season as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference and had the third-best chances to bring home the Larry O’Brien Trophy – higher expectations than in any year since. Lebron James‘ last season with the team in 2017–18.
So Cleveland is doubling last season’s command – third-year big man Evan Mobley should be the center of its operations.
The Cavs achieved their most successful regular season in a decade last season by relying less on Mitchell and more on Mobley. And probably with good reason.
Over the past two postseasons, Mitchell has had 11 30-point games; The Cavs are just 5-6 in those games.
For the team to reach the Conference Finals, the Cavs believe they need to rely less on Mitchell as they do on every player like Ohtani; Create a more dynamic and diverse offense with new role players Hunter and lonzo ball adding to an already solid ecosystem; And give Mobley even more responsibility.
The Cavs are 4-3 so far – a comparatively inauspicious start; They did not lose their third game until November 29 last season. Their defense remains top 10, but their offense ranks 26th in the league.
“Those little tests can help us for the playoffs,” Hunter said. “We’ve got a long season, and there are a lot of tests along that journey. We endure those tests to prepare us. And, honestly, losing like that in the playoffs, whether it’s a full year later or not, it prepares you for the next time you face that adversity.”
Mitchell sees progress even in early regression. After making a run last regular season, he said, his job this season will be to make sure they are in a better position to succeed in the playoffs.
“Habits, man. You don’t just figure it out,” Mitchell said. “We still have to build. That’s what this whole regular season is about. You can’t look at it and just wait until April, because everything you do in April lays the foundation for the entire season.”
michelle got the point The Cavs will be down two starters to start the season in mid-August.
After the end of the playoffs in June, Garland had toe surgery, ruling him out of the beginning of the season, and then Mitchell learned max strus A fracture in his left leg needed repair.
Mitchell took his break from basketball after another disappointing playoff loss. He got engaged to R&B singer Coco Jones in July. He delved deeper into his Mets fandom, sitting down with New York shortstop Francisco Lindor for an hour on his podcast. The playoff loss was painful, and he wanted to clear his mind.
But then came the news that in addition to missing two starters, the Cavs’ leading bench scorer, Ty Jeromesigned with memphis grizzlies In free agency. Mitchell’s real offseason began.
“Realizing that hey, this happened and we messed up,” Mitchell told ESPN. “Now it’s like, ‘Okay, how do we not get in trouble next time?’
He was soon joined by Mobley.
Injuries played a role in consecutive playoff exits. Mitchell himself missed the final two games of the 2024 Conference Semifinals against Boston. In the 2025 series against the Pacers, Garland missed the first two games; Mobley and Hunter missed Game 2; And Mitchell was hampered by an ankle injury towards the end of the series.
Mitchell is coming off a season in which he posted a 30.9% usage rate, his lowest since his rookie season in 2017-18. But during the playoffs, in part due to injuries surrounding him, it increased to 37.2%, the highest of any player in the playoffs and one of the highest in his career.
“Me and [Mobley] Had a conversation, it was like, ‘Hey, he took a step last year,'” Mitchell said. ‘This is his first year actually having a ball like that. Now it’s like, ‘Hey, I’m not open… it’s you. That crime composition is coming from you. This is what we expect from you. But with it also comes great responsibility.”
Mobley, 24, averaged career highs in points, field goal attempts, 3-pointers and free throws last season, in addition to winning Defensive Player of the Year. This earned him an All-Star Game appearance and his first All-NBA nod, but the Cavs still feel like they are only tapping into his potential.
“He’s handling the ball a lot more,” Atkinson said. “He’s got to be a playmaker for us, and you’ll see an increase in usage again. But I want that balance — between the perimeter and getting him the ball inside and getting him the paint.”
Mobley’s usage rate is up to 24.7% so far this season, a notable increase from the 23.2% he posted in the 2024-25 season. And he has taken on even greater responsibilities in drama production. He averages a career-best 4.4 assists per game.
“I just have to keep going, accepting the challenges,” Mobley told ESPN.
Those challenges are in question. After shooting 49.1% from the field last season, the second-best mark in the league (behind Denver’s 50.6%), the Cavs have started this season shooting 44.5%, which ranks 24th in the NBA. They’re making the same number of 3s, but they need four more shot attempts per game to get there.
And Mitchell is shooting 33.7% of the Cavs’ points this season, the most in his four-year tenure in Cleveland, and he’s making many of his shots off the dribble. According to ESPN Research, 81% of his made 2-pointers have been unassisted, and he is getting more points from the midrange than ever before, making 13.6% of his points compared to 9.9% last season.
“I don’t have an exact answer for you right now,” Mitchell said before the season. “It’s going to be a feeling. A lot of it is right here.” [Evan’s] Wherever or whenever Dre is, be ready for whatever comes.
“It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, you back off — but sometimes the situation demands it. People were hurt, it’s not just ‘F— it, I go here.'”
That’s why Mitchell has leaned on Mobley so heavily, trying to instill both confidence and aggression in the Cavs’ youngest star.
“I had to figure it out at his age when I first came into the league,” Mitchell said. “It’s a process. You’re seeing him be aggressive, which we’ll accept. Now it’s like how can I be smart with this too?
“I’m in his ear nonstop. … ‘Hey, you’re a threat, or here’s a pass, or f— stop passing the ball, there’s no way player X is going to be able to guard you.’ He has it himself, not saying it’s all me. It’s reinforcing that.”
The Cavs also know that a reinforcement is on its way.
Atkinson said last week that Garland, still his best playmaker, is close to making his season debut. Garland went through training camp with the Cavs G League team and has made a full recovery from his toe injury.
Ball, for his part, has already helped pace the team’s 10th ranking, and he has recorded at least one steal in each of the last five games he has played.
,[This team] “It’s literally everything you want in this league,” Ball told ESPN. “Especially with the way our big guys are now. We have modern big companies, so for me, it’s just coming in and doing my job.”
However, inside the organization, the Cavs know their season depends on that young, modern big. He has been impressed by Mobley’s willingness to add more attack, in addition to boosting the defence. They know this could be the key to another deep playoff run.
“If you watch him this offseason, he’s been locked in,” Cavs president Colby Altman said before the start of the season. “He’s really serious about making the jump to becoming a top-five player in the league. … He’s grown up, he’s still 24 years old, but now he’s becoming a bigger man in terms of his body, his emotions.
“I think he’s ready to take the next step. I say it all the time: As he goes, we go.”
