Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell said facing the New York Knicks is another “full circle” moment given the events of last summer, according to a Friday tweet from Associated Press Sports Writer Tom Withers.
“Donovan Mitchell says facing the Knicks is another ‘full circle’ moment for the New Yorker and given the events of last summer,” wrote Withers.
Donovan Mitchell, a native of Elmsford, New York, thought he would be traded to the Knicks, according to NBC Sports Lead NBA writer Kurt Helin.
“Once Rudy (Gobert) got traded, I kind of saw the writing on the wall. You know, I think we all did,” Mitchell said at his introductory press conference, via NBC Sports. “I think we understood we had a good run. I kind of had a feeling I was gonna get moved.
“Like I said, I thought it was New York, I’m not gonna lie to you. You know, obviously, who doesn’t want to be home next to mom? I haven’t lived at home since I was like an eighth grader, been at boarding school, and that would have been nice. For me, I once I found out I got traded (to Cleveland) and what we’re going into, like that trumped everything for me. Like I said, I’m truly excited to be here to be part of this group to be a part of the city.”
Donovan Mitchell last had a full-circle moment when became the all-time leader in Cavs history for single-season 3-pointers during a 104-100 win over the Miami Heat in early March. He passed former Cavs guard J.R. Smith for the honor.
Mitchell admitted it was a full-circle moment because of his relationship with Smith.
“It’s an honor,” Mitchell said, via Cleveland.com. “The season he did it, I was a Cleveland Cavalier fan. I’m watching the Cavs on TV and screaming.
“To be able to say I’m part of history in this organization and a guy who lives not too far from me, I’ve worked out with him a thousand times, played pickup with him a thousand times, it’s truly special.”
