SAN FRANCISCO — The video is there when Donovan Mitchell needs it, deep inside the Instagram account he’s poring through as he sits on a folding chair outside of the Chase Center visitors’ locker room.
The 29-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers star swipes past dozens of highlight reels of his best moments during this 30-second search — all of them capable of helping him forget what unfolded on the evening of April 24, 2019 — in pursuit of the painful clip that has inspired him ever since. This was the night James Harden’s Houston Rockets knocked Mitchell’s Utah Jazz out of the playoffs for the second consecutive time, back-to-back bouncings that shaped him in ways he has kept quiet for all these years.
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He was four of 22 when it mattered most, including 0 for 9 on 3s, with 5 turnovers to boot as the Rockets — with Harden leading the way — won 100-93. And this was the news conference where Mitchell, a rising star in his second season at the time, had to face the media music after a Game 5 performance that was so bad, he still can’t remember the gory details.
“I tell (Harden and then-Rockets point guard Chris Paul) all the time how that second year when we played them, and that series, changed my entire career,” Mitchell told The Athletic in a recent sitdown interview. “I have that video saved on my phone. I think I shot 8 of 26, or maybe 5 of 26, in the closeout game.”
He finally finds the file and hits play on the message that continues to be his mantra to this day.
“You don’t succeed without failure,” Mitchell told reporters that night. “You don’t succeed without having times like this. So to have that so vividly in my head in a moment like this, you know, I can tell you that I’m upset and what all. But you know — I’m gonna be better. Simply put, I wasn’t tonight, and I’ll be better.”
Little did Mitchell know he’d be trying to right that wrong, and take his legacy to the next level in the process, with Harden by his side.
When the Cavs made that stunning decision to bring in the 36-year-old Harden in early February, sending Darius Garland to the Clippers in a win-now move that was driven by the desire to keep Mitchell in town, they paired two all-time great players who have one undesirable thing in common. Despite both stars having made the playoffs in each of their professional seasons — eight for Mitchell and 16 for Harden — neither has won a title. Yet with the Cavs set to tip off against Toronto in their first-round matchup on Saturday, Mitchell and Harden have gelled in the kind of way that has them hoping, at long last, that this might be their year.
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Since Harden first debuted with Cleveland on Feb. 7, the Cavs — who started the season just 22-19 amid a flurry of injuries to core players — have gone 21-9 with a net rating that is 11th in the NBA during that span. Beyond the numbers, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson is quick to tell anyone who listens that this team is built better for the playoffs with Harden in tow. Mitchell, whose Cavs had the East’s best record last season only to fall to Indiana in the second round, sees it the same way.
“I don’t want to say it’s (Harden’s) last shot, or my last shot, either,” said Mitchell, who is eligible for a four-year, $277 million extension this summer or a five-year, $358.6 million extension in the summer of 2027. “But it’s our best shot. There’s a reason why he chose here. And for me, you know that you have a guy here who has done it at a very, very, very high level for a long time. I’ve seen it, firsthand. …When you’re both missing something like that, and that really impacts both of your legacies in a way, you do whatever it f—ing takes to win.”
The following interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
So James Harden and I were just talking about how he got here, and how there was certainly a business component where the Clippers came his way with that partial guaranteed contract last summer and it was enough to eventually lead to his exit. (Harden signed a two-year, $81.5 million deal, but only $13.3 million was guaranteed for next season). But tell me on your side, how did this come to pass? When did the idea of James being the guy with you in the backcourt first cross your desk?
You may not believe me when I say this, but I try not to get involved (in roster moves) as much as I can. But there’s a point where it’s like, ‘Okay (it’s getting real).’ So I wanna say, twwooo weeks? Maybe a little bit more. My timing could be off, but it’s like, ‘Alright there’s a conversation (between the two teams), so is that something that you (want)?’ And I’m like, ‘Hell yeah.’
Who’s asking you?
My agent, Austin Brown (of CAA). So it’s like ‘What does that look like?’ But how it was presented to me, it was so over here, so it’s one of those things where you hear about it, but then you kind of put it (to the side) because we’re going through our stretch where we’re playing well, finally. So to me, it wasn’t really in the front of my brain. We’re finally turning this s–t around. And then, honestly, right before we started going on that trip, and we get Dennis (Schröder) and Keon (Ellis in a trade with Sacramento on Jan. 31), right around that time is when it was like…
He snaps his fingers.
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It was like that. And I’m really more of the (type where) I don’t want to hear nothing until it’s real. I don’t want to f—ing hear it unless it’s there. And that’s when it kind of picked up really, really, really fast.
What was the relationship and the history between you and James?
I mean, that was my summers, where we would tour with Adidas together (both players have been with the sneaker company for the entirety of their respective careers). We went to China and Spain together, and then I was in Houston working out with him and (Paul), which is funny because we ended up playing them in the playoffs twice (laughs). Outside of my teammates, him and CP were guys I looked up to as far as being able to get better, right? Obviously, you play them in the playoffs, and there’s respect there. But I tell them all the time how that second year when we played them, and that series, changed my entire career.
After Mitchell plays the video of his postgame news conference from that series, he continues to explain the profound impact the 2019 matchup had on him.
I talked about that stuff a lot with (Harden) during that time. But now, to be here with him, I never would have thought. But we always had that respect and relationship. So we were always close, always cool.
There’s a narrative out there that I wonder if you’re willing to address directly, that — with the extension coming up and people wondering if you want to stay here — you applied pressure and had something to do with this going down. Is that a fair characterization?
I’ve said this many times, Sam, and I don’t know why people don’t believe me. But I really like it here. There’s also a business component (that) people just don’t understand. Like, I did an interview with (The Athletic’s) Joe (Vardon) the other day, and that s–t I was talking about with the food was real.
Earlier this month, Vardon detailed how the Cavaliers’ culture played a pivotal part in Mitchell’s decision to sign a three-year, $150 million extension in the summer of 2024. More specifically, the organization’s dedication to providing high-end meals to players, staff and family members at the team hotel on road trips is a rare perk of playing in Cleveland.
My thing is, this s–t is real. I don’t know why — I mean, I know why — but people can’t fathom the fact that I’m really enjoying it here. And when I’m talking about Cleveland, I’m talking about the organization. I felt like, okay, yes, there was a business (discussion about the Harden trade), like ‘Yes, let’s do this.’ But I never went to them and was like, ‘Yo, let’s do this.’ And that’s why I appreciated it, because this was on them.
When the trade talks first began, the Cavs were still hovering around .500. The 26-year-old Garland, who was plagued throughout last season’s playoffs by a Grade 1 left big toe sprain that required offseason surgery, had missed 16 of Cleveland’s first 24 games while still dealing with the injury. The Cavs — who also dealt with injuries to Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill — found themselves in seventh place in the East in mid-January.
Then right about the time Garland was looking like his All-Star self again, he suffered a Grade 1 sprain to his right toe in a game against Philadelphia on Jan. 14 that put him on the shelf again. By the time he returned on March 2, he was in a Clippers jersey.
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How were you feeling about the group at that time of the talks?
It was tough. It was tough. It’s a tough balance. You’re in that in-between, right? Guys are out. So what do you put it on? Guys are in. Guys are out. We’re starting two way (players). And that’s no disrespect to them. We’ve competed our f—ing asses off. But it’s kind of like ‘How can you judge it?’ For me, I didn’t even have to go and say anything. It was brought to me. The narrative (about him pressing), I wasn’t even gonna fight it because it was just like ‘Alright, here we go again.’ I’ve been through this many times with the narratives. So I was just like, ‘Hey, I don’t want anyone to know (about the talks) until it’s real, you know what I mean?’ And then it was real.
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When did you and James first talk or text or connect about the possibility?
The night before it came out, I think. It was just like, ‘Hey, this is really real.’ And it was probably a two minute conversation (on the phone). I was like, ‘All right, cool. I’m here. Let’s figure this out.’ And (the other thing) was that (Garland’s agent, Klutch Sports CEO) Rich (Paul) and them were (in support of the move) too, so it wasn’t hard. So once I found that out, I’m like, ‘Alright, cool.’ Now it’s really real. That was kind of my biggest thing. And when we got there, and then the night it came out, (Mitchell and Harden) talked on the phone like, ‘Alright, see you in (Sacramento), and let’s get to it.’ There wasn’t much for us to say. We know what it is. We’re both chasing the same thing. We’re both hungry. We both know what can happen. The basketball stuff, like we were just f—ing hooping off vibes. We know that’s gonna come. Now it’s just a matter of if this is really gonna go down.
You just alluded to it, but what is it like to be with another guy who has incredible accomplishments but who, like you, is still chasing the same thing when it comes to that ring.
I don’t want to say it’s his last shot, or my last shot, either. But it’s our best shot. There’s a reason why he chose here. He sees it. We know what we’ve gotta do. Now, how do we do it? Him and I are gonna be fine. We’re gonna stagger our minutes. We’re gonna do all that, and then in crunch time we all know. (But) how are we going to get (Merrill involved)? How we gonna get J.A. (Jarrett Allen), Evan (Mobley), Max (Strus), Keon, Dennis, everybody, around to gel and fit, you know what I mean? And the best part about (Harden) was that when you have a guy come in, and he’s like ‘Don, this is your team, bro.’ Then you go do your thing. You feel comfortable to be like, ‘Alright, bet.’
As Mitchell pointed out, the Cavs’ win over the Warriors on this night (118-111) was as good a sign as any that the dynamics between this duo are in a healthy place. With the Warriors loading up on Mitchell down the stretch, Harden was perfect in the final minute. He split a double team to find Strus with a slick pass to the right wing for a three, then beat single coverage for a floater that put the Cavs up six. With 10 seconds left, he hit two free throws for good measure to put the game away.
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It’s like tonight — I didn’t shoot the ball in the last three-and-a-half minutes of the game because they denied me. That’s cool, because we have a guy who is just so smart and who is making everybody better. And now you see Evan making that play (with 1:56 left, Mobley took a post pass from Harden and kicked it out to Strus for a 3 that put Cleveland up 5). You’re basically playing four-on-four in all that space because you want to deny me the ball. You have to pick and choose. Even talking about defensive schemes, it’s nice when you have a guy like (Harden) who can communicate and go back and forth, like ‘Cool, here’s what I see; what do you see?’ And then it’s boom-boom.
It’s not just offense, though. It’s the defense. Like ‘We didn’t have this here,’ where (someone is saying) ‘We need to be spaced here. If this guy gets a crack here, I can go here.’ Having those conversations remind me a lot of my time in Utah, where I’m talking to Joe (Ingles), talking to Ricky (Rubio), talking to Mike (Conley), talking to Bojan (Bogdanović), talking to Rudy (Gobert), and it was like ‘Boom, boom, boom.’
He snaps his fingers three times.
When you have Max, when you have Sam — guys who are really like that too — it’s like all of us are having that dialogue. Kenny’s great. (And) now we’re all communicating at a higher level.
He snaps two more times.
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It’s rubbing off, and I think that’s the void that James and I were both missing, of that championship, right? Obviously, he’s been to the finals (with Oklahoma City in 2012), and I’ve never been. But that’s what you miss. You’re missing that, and you’re hungry. If he wins one, I don’t know (how that affects him). If I have a ring, or he does, do you have the same fire? I don’t know — maybe. Maybe not. But when you’re both miss something like that, and that really impacts both of your legacies in a way, you do whatever it f—ing takes to win.
You know I have to ask, but has anything changed about the way you see the extension?
I love Cleveland. I’ve said it before: I want to play here for as long as I can. And the goal is to win — as long as we’re continuing to win at the highest level. But I love it, man. It’s a place that I feel like I can call home, you know what I mean? And I feel good. My fiance (singer/songwriter and actress Coco Jones) feels good about it.
Well … she needs to come by more often because that dunk you had in (New York on Christmas Day) was something.
(Laughs). But no, the Cleveland life — I love it. I’m good. Now, the basketball just has to continue to be right where it’s been. This organization has shown time and time again that they’re willing to do whatever it takes, and that’s what you want.