The Athletic Panel: Donovan Mitchell Has the Most to Prove in 2025-26, Writers Say
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The Athletic convened NBA writers William Guillory, Law Murray and Josh Robbins for a roundtable on the league’s biggest individual storylines heading into the 2025-26 season. While the discussion covered MVP sleepers, redemption arcs and comeback bids, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell emerged as the focal point.
Murray labeled Mitchell “the player with the most to prove,” noting the five-time All-Star’s First Team All-NBA selection last season and his role in Cleveland’s 64-win campaign. Despite that success, Mitchell has yet to reach a conference finals.
“This might be the last time Cleveland has a team this special—and in a conference this thin—with Mitchell leading it,” Murray wrote.
Guillory echoed that sentiment and highlighted a statistic placing Mitchell in elite company: only LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Kevin Durant, Allen Iverson and Mitchell have averaged at least 28 points across 60 or more playoff games. Guillory added that steering the Cavaliers to a conference finals appearance would strengthen Mitchell’s case as one of the league’s premier postseason performers.
On the MVP front, Robbins listed Mitchell among the primary contenders, pointing out that Cleveland could again finish atop the Eastern Conference. Mitchell finished fifth in MVP voting last season and turned 29 in June, keeping him firmly in his prime.
The panel also mentioned Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama as players to monitor, but consensus held that Mitchell’s narrative will be one of the league’s most closely watched when the new season begins.
Source: Hoops Wire
