Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell came to the defense of teammate James Harden following the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals, saying the veteran guard receives unfair criticism despite his impact on winning.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Mitchell reflected on Harden’s influence during his first season in Cleveland after the former MVP arrived in a midseason trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals before being swept by the New York Knicks, marking the deepest playoff run of Mitchell’s career and his first conference finals appearance.
Mitchell credited Harden for helping Cleveland take that step forward.
“I’m appreciative of him because he helped me get somewhere that I’ve never been before. It’s different when you have somebody that you look eye-to-eye with in that scenario and we live in a world where it’s so much easier to knock and hate… To see it firsthand, the work ethic, the passion, the IQ, the leadership, it’s just like man just gets a bad rep.”
Harden’s postseason resume has long been a topic of debate around the league. Despite being a 11-time All-Star, former MVP and one of the most productive offensive players in NBA history, criticism has often followed him because of playoff shortcomings and several high-profile exits throughout his career.
"I'm appreciative of him because he helped me get somewhere that I've never been before… To see it firsthand, the work ethic, the passion, the IQ, the leadership, it's just like man just gets a bad rep"
Donovan Mitchell on James Harden 🗣️
(via @espn) pic.twitter.com/2dv6tNIscF
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 30, 2026
Mitchell suggested that public perception frequently overlooks the bigger picture and the accomplishments players achieve during their careers.
“And I saw Denzel [Washington] say this and he’s won three Oscars, and the first thing he said to the interviewer was like, ‘Yeah, but I lost eight times.’ And we don’t talk about that.”
Donovan Mitchell’s praise comes as Cavaliers prepare new James Harden deal
The comments come at a pivotal time for Harden and the Cavaliers. Recent reports indicate Cleveland is expected to re-sign the 36-year-old this offseason on a new multi-year contract worth roughly $30 million annually. Such a deal would represent a pay cut from Harden’s current $42.3 million player option while helping the organization gain financial flexibility as it attempts to move below the NBA’s restrictive second luxury tax apron.
Harden played 26 regular-season games for Cleveland after the trade and averaged 23.6 points, 8.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 46.6% from the field and 43.5% from three-point range.
His production dipped during the playoffs, where he averaged 19.2 points, 5.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals across 18 games. However, Harden played a significant role in helping the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference Finals without LeBron James on the roster for the first time since the 1991-92 season.
While Cleveland’s season ended in disappointment against New York, Mitchell’s comments made clear that he believes Harden’s contributions extend beyond the box score and that the veteran’s leadership was instrumental in helping the Cavaliers reach new heights.