The Cleveland Cavaliers got their season on track by registering their first win of the season against the Brooklyn Nets. Mario Hezonja played his part off the bench, scoring nine points and grabbing five rebounds in 20 minutes of action at Rocket Arena.
Before the game, Hezonja, who signed a $2.85 million one year contract with the Cavs in July, explained how a part of his work revolves around providing support to Donovan Mitchell. Per HoopsHype, Hezonja suggested that he had built an immediate rapport with Mitchell, and explained his thinning during a particular moment in the loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Donovan is been extraordinary a teammate and extraordinary human being with me first of all,” he said. “We go way way back. So he was super supportive of that because I see him and I tell him you’re not supposed to bring up the ball against the pressure because we need you in the last quarter. We need you in playoffs, we need you in game 80, game 60. Having somebody like me that can help as I said for the first day I’m here to to help you.”
Hezonja had waived off Mitchell after grabbing a rebound against the 76ers, and then ignored a pass to pull off a bucket over Anfernee Simmons. While the Cavs suffered a brutal loss against LeBron James and co., Hezonja himself produced 10 points, three rebounds and two assists against the 76ers, with Mitchell himself leading the line with 32 points.
There is little doubt that the Cavs need their best player in perfect condition if they are to have a successful season. They had a successful regular season last time around, finishing with a 52-30 record and the No. 4 seed in the East before falling short in the Eastern Conference Finals against the eventual champions, the New York Knicks.
And it seems as if Hezonja himself is determined to providing the right backup to Mitchell as the Cavs will look to get out of the East in the postseason this year.