Mitchell talks about being eliminated by the Pacers: The hardest to let go of life, maybe it will happen, but it will not stop moving forward

July 4th In a recent interview with Taylor Rooks, Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell frankly talked about the feeling of the Cavaliers being eliminated by the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals as the number one in the East.

Mitchell said: "I get a lot of money for playing basketball, but it's also accompanied by criticism, like, 'Hey, can Donovan do it?' This will become a question because when we win, this is how the outside world judges me. I think in this world, there are always people who expect you to fail. I think it's not just sports, but part of life. But it's especially obvious in sports. I also know that there are many people in Cleveland and other cities who want to see me fail. So for me, it's not to be swallowed by this emotion. Twist, what you need to understand is - hey, this failure really hit me a big blow, do you understand what I mean? "

" Last season was harder to let go of me than any other year before. It was this feeling that would make me stop letting the same thing happen next time. I joked after the season: 'This kind of thing may happen eight more times.' But I won't stop moving forward."

Mitchell performed well in the 2024-25 season, averaged 24.0 points per game, and was selected into the All-Star and NBA All-Squad team. In nine games against the Heat and Pacers in the 2025 playoffs, Mitchell averaged 29.6 points per game. But the six-time All-Star player has not yet reached the division final with the Jazz or the Cavaliers.

has averaged 26.2 points per game since joining the Cavaliers. He will earn $46.4 million next season.