ALL-STAR GAME: TEAM GIANNIS VS. TEAM LEBRON

February 19, 2023

Donovan Mitchell

Team Giannis

Press Conference

Team Giannis - 184, Team LeBron - 175

Q. I was talking to Don Sterling and Steve Starks, and they said that 2018 on a flight to L.A. before All-Star there you were signing jerseys, and they were talking about we're putting a bid in to get the 2023 All-Star Game. And they talked about how special it is that even though you're not with the Jazz, that you actually were able to be here for that and see it come full circle. Did it feel like a whole full circle thing for you?

DONOVAN MITCHELL: Yeah, 100%. You know, obviously, you grow up here as a player, as a person, as a man and then to be back here as a starter. It's one of those things.

Like I said, I was a Cleveland fan growing up, so that's a full-circle moment. You have all these full-circle moments in Cleveland and then to come back here for All-Star, it's almost like it makes sense.

I think it's truly special. I'm honored to be here. Honored to be back, and the love you receive is awesome.

Q. With Cleveland you guys finished 8-2 before the break.

DONOVAN MITCHELL: Yep.

Q. Is there anything in particular that you think you all need to do as a team to be in that top tier of contenders, or do you feel like you're already there?

DONOVAN MITCHELL: I feel like we are, but I feel like we have to do a lot to stay there, continuously stay there. I feel like we believe in it.

We have a group that's dedicated to winning, and there are certain things we have to learn, learn about each other. It's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows with us. We're still a team that's young, but we also are figuring each other out in the same way.

So we're doing a lot of good, and there's a lot more we can do to be even better. So for me I think as a leader of that team, just continuing to take it day by day, step by step. We have a great coaching staff, great guys in the locker room that makes that easy every day. We've got to take care of business coming out of the break.

Q. There was a time in that game where Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum went one-on-one a few times, and the crowd got really into it.

DONOVAN MITCHELL: Yeah.

Q. Do you think that the NBA should start doing a one-on-one competition in the All-Star break?

DONOVAN MITCHELL: (Laughing) I think it would be exciting to watch. I don't know what you'll get out of that. I think the best battles happen when none of you all are watching, to be honest. I think that's something that as athletes we really keep as a group.

I think if everybody wants to see it, we see it on Twitter all the time. Who would win? Who would do this? What you guys saw tonight with Jayson and Jaylen is what I saw at Team USA practice. I can only imagine how many times in Boston Celtics practices.

But I think the best battles come behind closed doors when there's trash talking, there's a little more grit to it. I think it would be cool, but I don't know how much you would be able to get out of it, if I'm being honest.

Q. I'm guessing a lot of emotions this weekend. What was your favorite moment being back to what was your home for five years?

DONOVAN MITCHELL: A few things. I had a comedy show on Thursday that my mom really locked in and put together, and all the proceeds went to Kearns High School out here in Utah. I think that for me is one of my prouder moments. Still being able to give back even though I'm not here. That's forever going to stay with me.

I appreciate every comedian that was able to come on such short notice to help for a great cause. Everybody who came to the show, you know, I think that's something for me that really hits home.

All-Star practice, being able to see the fans I think was pretty dope. Then the game. It's one of those things. Like, my first time as a starter, you never forget. Like I said, I came in here as a young kid and started to grow up a little bit. For me to be here in this moment and in this position, God is good, and I'm forever grateful.

Q. Donovan, you got one fan vote for MVP. Jayson took home the other 11.

DONOVAN MITCHELL: Yeah.

Q. What was it like? There's a time in the third quarter where it was, like, is it going to be your game, is it going to his game? What's that feeling like when you both are starting to feel it? What did you think of Jayson tonight?

DONOVAN MITCHELL: We were talking about it. It was like, all right, let's go get it. At the end of the day he caught fire. You know, it's all love.

Like I said in the postgame, Jayson and I have been playing on the same teams or different teams since high school, like whether it's at certain games. So it's one of those things you really have to appreciate. You sit back and watch.

There was a point in time where I was, like, Hey, I need one assist. That's why I handed the ball back to him, and he ended up shooting it and making it. It's all love. At the end of the day we're competitors too, and we wanted to both go get it, and he got it. I'm happy as hell for him.

He has taken that step, and you see it with what he is doing over there in Boston. As a group, the Cleveland Cavaliers, we're trying to continue to ascend to get to that point. It's also motivating, and it's great to be around.

Q. Donovan, the lob that you threw to Lauri early in the game, I'm wondering if you talked about that at all?

DONOVAN MITCHELL: No, it just formulated. Like I said, it's one of those things, just those moments. It's just funny how those things work. Like I said, I've known a lot of these guys since high school. I've known Lauri for a while. It's great to see him out here thriving, and it was great to have that moment, for sure.

Q. As someone who scored 71 points this season and obviously you see the All-Star Game, I know defense is probably the last thing that we can talk about.

DONOVAN MITCHELL: I tried to play defense too. I was trying. I was trying to pick it up full court.

Q. I know how you came into this league. I've got to ask about defense and how we might look at the game 25 years from now. You see this is one of the most efficient offensive seasons, right? So when you think about the future of the game, what do you think the next step is for the defense to catch up to the offense?

DONOVAN MITCHELL: That's a great question. I don't know. I think maybe the game evolves to being a little more physical like it was back in the day. A lot more hand-checking, and maybe freedom of movement goes away. Maybe it doesn't. I don't really know. I think that probably my answer is maybe the physicality on ball, off ball, getting through screens. Certain things are taken out of the game.

Since I've been in the league, they took out the -- what you do when you stop behind and shoot, you grab the arm or whatever it is. So you look at that. They're trying to change, find ways to take that out of the game offensively.

But it's tough. You have 450 of the best players in this world. It's tough to confine guys offensively when you have that space. You have no defensive three seconds. You have shooting. Steph Curry has made it to a point where people are shooting from beyond half court, like you saw tonight. I think all of us tried it at least once tonight.

It's tough. If you have to guard somebody at half court, they have more free room to get by you to get downhill. Now the defense collapses, and now you have to scramble.

It's tough, but I think maybe a little more physicality. I speak that way because I'm a physical guard, but maybe somebody else has a different answer.

Q. Back in 2020 when your grandma passed away, you dedicated a very emotional message to her, including your desire for her to teach you how to speak Spanish. That made a very strong connection with the Latino community, and we would love to hear more about it, including the Panama flag that you have on your neck?

DONOVAN MITCHELL: I got this right after. It has my name and my sister's name and my mom's name, my grandmother's name, Mama Blossom, right?

It was the day before my birthday when she passed. I grew up in her house, her home. I don't want to say I was a fluent Spanish speaker, but she was teaching me things day by day as I got older to the point where I was killing everybody in Spanish class.

You mix that and my dad working for the Mets and being around a lot of Hispanic baseball players, I was really getting it from different people.

I think for me just being able to have this, wear this, and show my love for someone who came over here on a boat, didn't have much, set the foundation for my family. And for me to be the first one to graduate college -- or not graduate. Sorry. Jesus Christ (laughing). My mom would be the first one to graduate college. My sister is right behind her. I'm trying to do the same as well.

There's no Donovan Mitchell without Blossom, right? You don't see me. She took us in when we really didn't have different things. I'm glad that people are starting to notice this because, like I said, there's none of this, there's no Donovan, there's no Nicole Mitchell, no Jordan Mitchell, there's none of that without her. She's forever in my heart.

Q. Shifting to the game, you know, that format of selecting, LeBron sort of likened it to the playground, old-school style. I'm sure it's more fun when you are doing the picking. What was it like for you sitting there watching the guys go and sort of gaming out how it was going to go for you?

DONOVAN MITCHELL: Honestly, like, look, I'm either going to get 40 points or shoot 40 shots tonight. I don't care whose team I'm on (laughing). That was the mindset tonight.

I'm kind of joking, but I'm not. But for me it was cool. Like, it was cool to be out there. I think it's one of those things that just brings more excitement to the All-Star Game.

You see the jokes, the laughter that came with it, the uncertainty, guys having to switch locker rooms, different things like that. Giannis coming in there talking, Hey, some of you might not be here. Little jokes and stuff like that.

It makes you want to work to become an All-Star captain so you get to choose and decide. I think it's a lot of fun, and it's great for the fans and great for the game.

Q. Donovan, I've got to ask you about the drip, man. I'm from Detroit originally. The look you've been getting, extra icy with the glasses. Is that Cartier glasses?

DONOVAN MITCHELL: No, no, no. I should know this. Hold on, where give me a second. Sophe Sierra. I got these from a friend of mine, Vic. She knew them and had a connection. Once I saw them, they have the spider on them, and they make custom ones. I think a few guys throughout the league have them.

So I have never really worn buffs before, and now that I have these, I don't know if you all have noticed, I have worn them every day since I've been at All-Star Weekend. So I will probably get a few more.

I appreciate them allowing me to wear these and rock them for free, and hopefully get a few more.