Cavs Insider

Cleveland Cavaliers Make Major MVP Push for Donovan Mitchell

Mitchell has an outside chance to win the award.
Gavin Dorsey|
Apr 4, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Apr 4, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

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Cleveland Cavaliers

With just five games remaining in the regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are one win away from clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The 62-15 Cavs are also four games shy of tying the 2008-09 team for the most single-season wins in franchise history.

Cleveland has been one of the best teams in the NBA this year, but despite having three All-Stars, the Cavaliers haven't had much traction in the MVP race. The award appears to now be a two-man race between Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver's Nikola Jokic, but the Cavs aren't giving up on their superstar guard taking home some hardware.

Donovan Mitchell put up 26 points, seven assists, a block and a steal on Friday as Cleveland held off the Spurs for a 114-113 victory. The Cavaliers posted a highlight reel of Mitchell on social media after the win, advocating for their guy to receive national recognition.

"Leading, not only with numbers, but with the energy he brings to the court every single night," the caption read. "Put Spida in the MVP conversation."

In NBA.com's latest MVP ladder, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic occupied the top two spots. Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo ranked third, while Boston's Jayson Tatum and Golden State's Stephen Curry rounded out the top five. Mitchell was sixth and forward Evan Mobley cracked the top 15 as an honorable mention.

It may be unlikely that a Cavalier wins the Most Valuable Player award, but Mitchell and Mobley are almost certain to both end up on an All-NBA team. Regardless, Cleveland should be more focused on a deep playoff run than any awards, but recognition doesn't hurt either.

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Gavin Dorsey
GAVIN DORSEY

Gavin Dorsey is the Lead Writer for Northwestern Wildcats On SI and assists in covering a handful of other teams in the On SI network, including the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Guardians, Houston Texans and Ohio State Buckeyes. Before joining On SI in February 2025, he wrote for the Star Tribune and Inside NU while broadcasting college sports for both radio and television. Dorsey is a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, where he also studied psychology. In his free time, he enjoys running and being outdoors. Dorsey is currently a freelance writer for the Associated Press, covering Chicago area sports teams.

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