Team USA pulled out all the stops for the 2024 Paris Olympics and leaned heavily on the three most decorated players of their era. LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant led what is now referred to as “The Avengers,” and the mission is a success. The Americans won the gold medal game for a fifth straight time, wrapping a bow on this dominant stretch of international basketball. There are other stars who are primed to represent the nation going forward. Will one of them be Donovan Mitchell?
Not everyone may agree on the answer to that question. In a post on X, formerly twitter, the Legion Hoops account posed the question of which players people would want to see on Team USA in 2028. The choices given were Ja Morant, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Brunson, Paolo Banchero, Cooper Flagg, Zion Williamson and Cade Cunningham.
The face of the Cleveland Cavaliers was not included. He took notice of the omission and delivered a succinct yet effective response. Mitchell replied with only a laughing emoji.
Many fans echoed the sentiment. Legion Hoops did include No. 45 in its personal Team USA roster for the Los Angeles Summer Games on Monday, so perhaps leaving him off was merely a mistake. In any case, the post and subsequent reaction does raise an interesting point.
Will Donovan Mitchell be an Olympics lock four years from now? He will be 31 years old when the reigning champs defend their crown once again, which can be a tricky age for a ball-dominant guard. The same concern could exist for Brunson. Still, Mitchell has been waiting for this opportunity for some time.
Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell could be ready to fully announce his presence
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The 2023 All-NBA Second-Team selection and five-time All-Star was in the pool of possible players for the Paris Olympics but did not make the final roster. Although there is always stiff competition in the U.S. backcourt, his accolades are difficult to ignore.
Mitchell has elevated his game since being traded to the Cavaliers. He averaged 26.6 points while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent from downtown to go with a career-high 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per contest last season.
Despite not appearing in a conference finals, the No. 13 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft increased the Utah Jazz’s ceiling and recently led the Cavs to their first non-LeBron James postseason series victory since 1993. There is debate as to if he is an undeniable superstar, but Mitchell is definitely a difference-maker.
With a highly talented group around him— Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen– Cleveland’s top guy could become even more dangerous and thereby more appealing to the Team USA selection committee. For now, his focus is on helping the Cavs ascend to the next level in the East.
But he could still use his exclusion from Team USA as a source of motivation.
