Donovan Mitchell: Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 131-122 in an exciting game to start a historic 9-0 record undefeated. This unparalleled beginning marks the finest in Cavaliers history, surpassing even the early LeBron James era supremacy. NBA commentators, especially former player Jeff Teague, who drew a startling analogy between Mitchell and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, have started discussion about this performance.
When Teague said on his podcast that Mitchell is now better than Edwards in terms of his abilities and court effect, he set off a spirited discussion. Clearly startled, his co-host DJ Wells urged Teague to clarify his assertion.
“Donovan Mitchell is better than Anthony Edwards; I’m totally on Don’s side,” Teague said boldly. D-Mitch is an other kind of animal.
Teague’s compliments for Mitchell stem from recollections of his outstanding performances in the 2020 NBA bubble, when the league started playing amid the worldwide epidemic. “Back then, Donovan scored 45 points—like it was nothing. Teague underlined, “I have never seen Ant do that under pressure.” Mitchell is all business; Edwards has charm and a flamboyant flair. His upbringing differs and this reflects his attitude to the game.
Teague did not stop there; he also supported his view with statistics. Donovan Mitchell has, statistically, a higher accurate shooting %. He is just as explosive—if not more so. Though Anthony Edwards is very gifted, I have not seen him flourish in a scoring battle like to Donovan.
Mitchell’s performance is rather remarkable. On an amazing 48.5% shooting percentage, he is averaging 23.8 points per game this season. Edwards is averaging 28.0 points per game, shooting 48.2% of his field goals and a remarkable 46.1% from three-point range in contrast. Notwithstanding these figures, Teague supports Mitchell’s expertise and track record and stands by his evaluation.
Mitchell has a little lead in scoring over Edwards’ 23.0 across their careers—average 24.8 points. Although Edwards’s charming demeanor and attitude have earned him a fan favorite, Mitchell’s methodical, business-like style and eight years of NBA experience require respect. Mitchell has been selected an All-Star five times, whereas Edwards has only been voted twice, therefore reinforcing Mitchell’s status as among the league’s top players.
Mitchell’s evening was not without difficulty, however. He ranted at the refereeing after the game, calling the foul calls “outrageous.” He voiced worry about the dearth of choices even though Cleveland is second in the NBA in drives per game. “I tried to keep calm, but tonight was one of those nights when I almost lost it,” Mitchell said in a postgame interview. “We attack the rim consistently but we do not get whistles”.
This evolution has contributed to the continuous discussion: Is Donovan Mitchell really superior than Anthony Edwards? Fans and experts both will be eagerly observing as the season goes on to see how the two players will define the NBA’s future.