Donovan Mitchell in awe of LeBron James’ longevity following his 40th birthday

Donovan Mitchell revealed his admiration for LeBron James after the Cavaliers victory over the Lakers in James' first game after turning 40.

Donovan Mitchell in awe of LeBron James’ longevity following his 40th birthday

Donovan Mitchell revealed his respect and admiration for LeBron James' longevity

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominant run with a 122-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, extending their win streak to eight games. The matchup marked LeBron James’ first game after turning 40, making him the only player in NBA history to appear in games as a teenager and in his forties. Cavs star Donovan Mitchell revealed his admiration for James after the game.

Donovan Mitchell, who grew up watching LeBron James dominate the league, took a moment to reflect on James’ extraordinary career after the game. The Cavaliers guard, now a franchise cornerstone himself, marveled at the longevity and consistency of the Lakers’ superstar. For Mitchell, playing against James while wearing a Cavaliers jersey was a surreal experience.

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You respect his availability, his resilience. You look at his career, he’s done so much, and there’s so many you pick from, but the biggest thing to me is he’s always there no matter what. He’s 40 years old still doing this. It’s the ultimate respect there; he’s a savant of the game, won at the highest level.

Donovan Mitchell said post-game

Mitchell went on to add that donning a Cavaliers jersey in such moments felt like a full-circle moment, especially with his own goals of bringing a championship to the Cavaliers. While the two stars certainly share a deep respect for each other, it was a different story on the court as Mitchell and the Cavs ran away with a 12-point victory.

While LeBron James contributed 23 points and 7 assists, it was the Cavaliers’ balanced offense, led by Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell, that ultimately sealed the victory. Mitchell finished with 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, contributing significantly to Cleveland’s league-leading record. With the win, the Cavs improved to a 29-4 record.

Donovan Mitchell delivers sobering take on Cavs league-leading record

While the Cavaliers have been the hottest team in the league, now sitting at an impressive 29-4, Donovan Mitchell maintained a grounded perspective. Following the game, Mitchell spoke candidly about the team’s success. He downplayed the significance of their regular-season dominance, focusing more on their larger championship goals going forward towards the postseason.

We haven’t won [a championship]. We’re playing great basketball, but it really doesn’t mean much.

Donovan Mitchell told the reporters

Mitchell’s perspective aligns with his role as a leader on a team filled with young talent and seasoned veterans. The Cavaliers’ offense has been exceptional, driven by the play of their core four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Allen’s dominance in the paint and the complementary play of Evan Mobley and Max Strus were on full display against the Lakers.

However, Mitchell’s sharp shooting self-creation ability alongside Garland has often been the deciding factor in close games. The duo are already settling into their role as one of the top backcourt duos in the league, if not the best. Even so, Mitchell remains laser-focused on the postseason, a stage where the Cavs have fallen short over the past few seasons.