Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavs beat the New Orleans Pelicans 131-122 to improve to 9-0, the greatest start to a regular season in franchise history. Mitchell and the 2024-25 Cavs topped the LeBron era for the impressive feat, which has put the rest of the league on notice, and NBA analyst alike, such as retired guard Jeff Teague. The Club 520 Podcast host went as far as to say Mitchell is a better player than Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards.
Teague got a surprised look and a “say that again” out of his co-host, DJ Wells.
“Donovan Mitchell is better than [Anthony Edwards] I’m rolling with Don man,” Teague said, doubling down on his take. “D-Mitch, man.”
Jeff’s respect for Donovan stretches back to the NBA bubble in 2020, where the 2019-20 regular season resumed after a five-month league shutdown in March due to Covid.
“I’ve got Donovan Mitchell brother, I ain’t never seen A.E. go for 45 in the bubble,” Teague added before further explaining his point.
“Donovan Mitchell gets just as much buckets as A.E. A.E. just talks and he’s more likable. He’s got more swag, more likable. Donovan Mitchell just gets his business done he doesn’t talk much, he’s just chilling. He just grew up a little different, his dad was a basketball player,” Teague concluded.
Then, Teauge brought up production to back up his argument.
“When it comes to them as individual players, Donovan Mitchell shoots way better than Ant Edwards, he’s just as explosive,” Teague added. “I love A.E’.s game but I haven’t seen A.E have that back and forth game like Donovan Mitchell has.”
Mitchell is averaging 23.8 points while shooting at a career-best 48.5% clip from the floor, while Edwards is averaging 28.0 points and is 48.2% from the floor, and 46.1% from deep. However, being the small sample size of the first couple week into the regular season that it is for the two stars, it’s difficult to gauge how those statistics change between now and the end of 2024-25.
Career-wise, Donovan has a slight advantage on career shooting while averaging 24.8 points to Edwards’ 23.0. Still, Teague says Ant-Man wins the popularity vote for his demeanor and abrasiveness despite the fact Mitchell has been in the NBA for eight years, three years longer than Edwards’ five. Both players have one All-NBA selection, while Donovan’s been named to five All-Star teams to Edwards’ two.
Donovan Mitchell sounds off on ‘outrageous’ officiating
Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Cavs star Donovan Mitchell went off on the officials during his postgame media availability. On an issue, Mitchell says, has been happening for a while with the Cavs, per Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
“We’re second in the league in drives per game and we’re not getting any foul calls,” Mitchell said. “I’ve been quiet about it for a long time. Tonight, I almost lost my mind out there.”
The Cavs will go for 10-0 against the Warriors on Friday.
