Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell gets MVP endorsement from Richard Jefferson

The Cleveland Cavaliers are off to the NBA’s hottest start, and Donovan Mitchell’s brilliance has been the driving factor. Cleveland is 5-0 with wins over the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers earlier this week. Mitchell has averaged 23.8 points and 5.0 assists on 50/38/72 shooting splits despite playing a career-low 30.2 minutes per game.

ESPN’s Richard Jefferson believes this is the year Mitchell could re-enter the MVP conversation with the Cavaliers.

“I think this is the season Donovan Mitchell has really embraced the understanding of the game,” Jefferson said. “Right now, we would say Donovan Mitchell is an MVP candidate. Let me be the first to say: If the Cavs keep playing at this level, Donovan Mitchell is an MVP candidate.”

Mitchell reaffirmed his commitment to the Cavaliers this summer, dispelling relocation rumors and signing a three-year, $150 million extension.

Can Donovan Mitchell win MVP with the Cavaliers this season?

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Mitchell has sniffed around the MVP conversation before. The five-time All-Star finished sixth in the award’s voting in 2022-23, his first season with the Cavaliers, after averaging 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals on 48/39/87 shooting splits. However, Joel Embiid would win the award after leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 58-24 record.

For Mitchell to win the award this year, Jefferson feels he’ll need to give his team the easiest path possible to make a deep playoff run.

“They have gotten better every single year, especially during the JB Bickerstaff era,” Jefferson said. They bring in a new coach. Two years ago, they lost in the first round against the Knicks. Last year, they go seven games and win a game seven then lose to the Boston Celtics. So for him to be an MVP, which I believe he can, they have to finish in the top three and avoid the Boston Celtics.

“Or else they’re gonna go against the Boston Celtics again in the second round and their season will look like it did last year. Or you finish in the top 3, Donovan Mitchell’s an MVP candidate, and you get a chance to go against them in the conference finals.”

The Cavaliers are showing promising early returns after hiring former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson. Despite rumors about a potential roster shakeup this offseason, Cleveland President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman stuck with the team’s core four of Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

That group has performed well out of the gate, with each player averaging over 17 points per game on 50 percent shooting or higher. Cleveland has the NBA’s top-ranked offense, posting a 123.4 rating through five games.

Mitchell and the Cavaliers will look to continue their hot start when they host the Orlando Magic on Friday before a home-away back-to-back against the Milwaukee Bucks.