Donovan Mitchell is still at the peak of his powers as a basketball player, and he still has plenty to prove in his basketball career — especially when he hasn’t yet made it to the Conference Finals despite consistently being in the playoffs. Moreover, Mitchell definitely has a big chip on his shoulder heading into the 2025-26 season after his beloved Cleveland Cavaliers’ 64-win season ended with a whimper in the second round of the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers.
But Mitchell is definitely planning for his future beyond the sport of basketball. He’s not going to be an NBA superstar forever, after all. But the Cavs star is being very ambitious with his plans for his life after his NBA career — with perhaps his jersey number of 45 being a sign of his Michael Jordan-esque plans.
“I will say, at some point I will try to be [Francisco Lindor] when I’m done playing [basketball]. I’m going to try to be you [in baseball]. Watch,” Mitchell said in an appearance on New York Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor’s podcast, “Café con Lindor”.
Considering how gifted of an athlete Mitchell is, this is not something that should be ruled out completely even though his proclamations seem preposterous on the surface. The Cavs star is an explosive leaper, a very agile guard, and his first step is incredible, allowing him to knife through the lane and get through even the best defenders in the NBA.
However, playing in the MLB and actually being at the level Lindor is at is another issue entirely. The Mets shortstop is a five-time All-Star and he has a career OPS of .815 all while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at one of the most important infield positions.
But the Cavs star is nothing if not confident, and it would already be a huge win if he ends up with a minor-league career better than that of Jordan’s.
Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs prepare for revenge season
David Richard-Imagn Images
Everyone and their mother is down on the Cavs heading into next season, which is understandable, considering how Cleveland disappointed in the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
But most championship teams tend to experience heartbreak before they break through in the grand stage. Even Jordan and his Chicago Bulls had to be humbled multiple times by the Bad Boys Detroit Pistons. Thus, expect Mitchell and the Cavs to approach next season with the mindset of wanting to prove everyone wrong.
