Despite being swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell is winning, and he’s not giving up. Mitchell addressed the Cavs’ season-ending loss in the conference finals. However, rather than promising Cleveland fans future success, he feels like a winner regardless.

Mitchell addressed Cavs fans and the likelihood of winning a championship, per ESPN.

“We may win a ring here, we may never win a ring here, but I’ve won in life,” Mitchell said. “I’m out of here. Catch ya’ll in 19 weeks.”

As the Cavs enter what many consider a pivotal offseason, many wonder whether the front office will make tweaks to its core beyond Mitchell to improve the team. It’ll be interesting to see how the Cavs approach the summer, given that significant roster tweaks seem necessary for Cleveland to remain in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.

Kendrick Perkins slams Cavs for ’embarrassing’ sweep

Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) huddles around teammates during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena

Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

When Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs met their fate in Game 4’s 130-93 loss to the Knicks, completing a 4-0 sweep, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins accused them of quitting, while facing a 0-3 hole. With the Cavs’ veteran James Harden’s upcoming contract extension looming, along with other potential changes, it could be a very busy summer for the front office.

Regardless, the Cavs’ blowout loss to the Knicks in Game 4 with the season on the line didn’t sit well with Perkins, he said, per ESPN’s NBA Courtside.

“This was one of the most, if not the most, embarrassing moments in NBA history,” Perkins said, via NBA Courtside. “They tapped out, they tapped out, and they quit. And you know the worst part about this whole situation…”

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Kendrick Perkins puts Cavs sweep in ‘most embarrassing moments in NBA history’

“The post-game comments throughout this series, starting with Kenny Atkinson, and what he said the other day about the analytics, that was one of the most asinine things I’ve heard this postseason, and Donovan Mitchell, he had something to say before last night’s game, he talked about, ‘Well, I feel like we never got over Game 1,’ basically along those context. What all that showing is your lack of mental toughness in that locker room,” Perkins concluded.

It’ll be interesting to see what changes the Cavs make over the summer.