Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell shared an unusual and unexpected anecdote about what drove one of the most dominant offensive performances in modern NBA history.
Appearing on The Cousins podcast, hosted by basketball legends Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, the star guard confessed that an unlikely factor contributed to his historic 71-point explosion against the Chicago Bulls: a New Year’s Eve celebration.
“I’ve never done that before, nor have I done it since”
Mitchell detailed the unique sequence of events leading up to the game that etched his name into basketball folklore:
“We played against the Bulls on New Year’s Eve, and then we were in Cleveland waiting for the New Year, so we faced them on the court again the very next day. I have to emphasize one thing, I have never in my career had a drink the night before a game. But it was New Year’s Eve, so I had a few drinks that night.”
71 PTS
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2023
8 REB
11 AST
W
Donovan Mitchell sets a new scoring record for the Cleveland Cavaliers and becomes only the 7th player in NBA history to score 70+ points in a game. pic.twitter.com/qbOwr3sqyH
“I had never done that before in my career, nor have I done it since. That’s why I often jokingly tell people that was probably the fuel that allowed me to play the game of my career.”
Dominance on the court and pursuing a Finals run without LeBron
After guiding the Cavaliers all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, Donovan Mitchell enters the new campaign with a singular focus: bringing Cleveland its first NBA Finals appearance since the LeBron James era. The past season served as yet another confirmation of his elite standing in the league. Mitchell posted impressive averages of 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, which earned him his seventh career All-Star selection, and a spot on the All-NBA Second Team.
Committing to Cleveland with a $273 million extension
To solidify Mitchell as the ultimate leader and franchise cornerstone for future, Cleveland made a defining move during the summer offseason. Both sides agreed to a maximum contract extension, with Donovan Mitchell putting pen to paper on a four-year deal worth an astronomical $273 million.
The new agreement features a player option for the 2030–31 season along with a trade kicker, ensuring maximum financial security and a bonus in the event of a trade.
