Donovan Mitchell
Born 1996 · Age 29
American professional basketball player (Shooting guard) for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Six-time NBA All-Star, All-NBA First Team (2025) and former Utah Jazz All-Star who rose to stardom after being drafted in 2017.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Elmsford, New York
Donovan Vernell Mitchell Jr. born to Donovan Sr. and Nicole Mitchell.
Played AAU for Riverside Hawks (with Ty Jerome)
At age eight Mitchell played AAU basketball for the Riverside Hawks out of New York City with future NBA teammate Ty Jerome.
Present at LeBron James 'Decision' event
Mitchell was present at the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich when LeBron James announced his decision to sign with the Miami Heat.
High school baseball injury ends baseball career
While playing baseball at Canterbury School, Mitchell collided with a catcher; Mitchell suffered a broken wrist and stopped playing baseball.
Transferred to Brewster Academy
Mitchell moved to Brewster Academy for his junior and senior years to focus on basketball and joined its nationally prominent prep program.
Won prep national championships with Brewster (one of two)
Part of Brewster Academy teams that won prep national championships (Mitchell won two during his Brewster tenure).
Committed to University of Louisville
Announced commitment to play college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals.
Enrolled at University of Louisville; freshman season
Began college career for Louisville Cardinals; wore No. 45 as homage to Michael Jordan; averaged 7.4 PPG as a freshman.
Sophomore season at Louisville — breakout year
Averaged 15.6 points, 2.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds; shot 46.3% from floor and named First-team All-ACC.
Featured on cover of Slam magazine and in docuseries 'Rookie on the Rise'
During his rookie season Mitchell appeared on the cover of Slam and starred in 'Rookie on the Rise', following his campaign.
Declared for 2017 NBA Draft
Declared for the NBA draft following his sophomore season (initially without hiring an agent).
Drafted 13th overall in 2017 NBA Draft (Denver) and traded to Utah Jazz
Selected 13th overall by the Denver Nuggets and immediately traded to the Utah Jazz (for Tyler Lydon and Trey Lyles picks).
Signed four-year rookie contract with Utah Jazz
Signed standard rookie scale contract with the Jazz.
Signed multi-year shoe deal with Adidas; Summer League 37 pts
Signed an Adidas multi-year endorsement and scored 37 points (most in 2017 Summer League) vs Memphis that day.
NBA regular-season debut
Recorded 10 points and 4 assists in debut against the Denver Nuggets.
First 40-point game (41) — rookie scoring record
Scored career-high 41 points vs New Orleans Pelicans, setting Jazz rookie scoring record and first rookie 40+ since Blake Griffin.
Father Donovan Sr.'s long tenure with New York Mets noted publicly
Reports noted Mitchell's father had worked for the Mets for over twenty years; Mitchell grew up around MLB locker rooms.
Named Western Conference Rookie of the Month (December 2017)
Awarded after averaging 23.1 PPG in December 2017.
Surpassed Karl Malone's rookie 20+ games Jazz record
Recorded his 19th 20+ point game, breaking Malone's franchise rookie mark.
Second 40-point game of rookie season
Recorded 40+ points vs Phoenix Suns, becoming first rookie guard with two 40-point games since Allen Iverson.
Named to and won 2018 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Replaced Aaron Gordon as an injury replacement and won the contest; first rookie winner since Zach LaVine.
Western Conference Rookie of the Month (February 2018)
Earned the award for February performances.
Set rookie record for 3-pointers in a season (186)
Made 186 three-pointers in the regular season, a rookie record.
Playoff debut: 27 points, 10 rebounds
Recorded 27 points and 10 rebounds in his first playoff game vs Oklahoma City Thunder; later bruised foot but played Game 2.
Named to NBA All-Rookie First Team
Selected to the 2017–18 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Season-high 38 points vs Rockets (2018–19)
Opened the 2018–19 season with a 38-point game.
Western Conference Player of the Week (Jan 6–13, 2019)
Recorded five 30-point games in January 2019, including three consecutive 30+ point games.
Career-high 46 points (first time)
Scored a career-high 46 points in a 115–111 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Tied career-high 46 points
Scored 46 points again in the regular season finale vs Denver Nuggets.
32 points, 12 assists season opener 2019–20
Opened 2019–20 with 32 points and 12 assists vs Oklahoma City Thunder.
Signed five-year rookie extension with Utah Jazz (2020 off-season)
Signed a five-year rookie extension paying at least $163 million with incentives that could reach $195 million.
Named to 2020 NBA All-Star Game (first All-Star selection)
Selected as a Western Conference reserve for the 2020 All-Star Game.
Tested positive for COVID-19; NBA season suspended
Mitchell and teammate Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, triggering a league-wide suspension.
Scored 57 points in playoff game — 3rd most in playoff history
Scored 57 in a 125–135 OT loss to the Denver Nuggets; third-most in a playoff game historically.
Scored 51 points in same playoff series
Recorded 51 points later in the same series — became one of few players to have two 50+ games in a playoff series.
Named 2021 NBA All-Star (2nd consecutive selection)
Selected as a Western Conference reserve for the 2021 All-Star Game.
Sustained significant ankle sprain, missed final 16 regular-season games
Suffered an ankle sprain in mid-April 2021 which sidelined him for the rest of the regular season.
Utah Jazz clinched NBA's best regular-season record
Jazz finished with the top seed and home-court advantage throughout the postseason — first time since 1997–98.
Scored 45 in Game 1 vs Clippers (2021 playoffs)
Scored 45 points to spark a Jazz rally and win Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals.
Named to 2022 NBA All-Star Game (3rd consecutive)
Selected as a Western Conference reserve for the 2022 All-Star Game.
Logged 32/6/6 in 2022 playoff Game 1 vs Mavericks
Recorded 32 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in a Game 1 win over Dallas in the first round.
Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers
Traded by Utah to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a blockbuster deal for Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks and two pick swaps.
Cleveland Cavaliers regular-season debut
Debuted for the Cavs with 31 points and 9 assists in a loss to the Toronto Raptors.
Scored 41 in OT vs Celtics; teammate also scored 41
Scored 41 points in an overtime win where Caris LeVert also scored 41 — first Cavs multiple 40+ since 2016 Finals.
Scored 43 vs Los Angeles Lakers
Recorded 43 points on 17-of-27 shooting in a 116–102 win over the Lakers.
Cavaliers franchise-record 71-point game
Scored a career-high and Cavaliers single-game record 71 points with 8 rebounds and 11 assists in a 145–134 OT win over Chicago; first 70+ with 10+ assists.
Named Eastern Conference All-Star starter (2023)
Selected as an Eastern Conference starter for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game — his fourth straight All-Star selection and first as a starter.
Surpassed LeBron James for most 40-point games in a season by a Cavalier (11)
Scored 42 vs New York and recorded his 11th 40-point game to surpass LeBron's Cavs single-season mark.
Four straight 40-point games; secured No. 4 seed and first 50-win season since 1993 w/out LeBron
Scored 43 to become the first Cav to score 40+ in four straight games and helped Cavs clinch No. 4 seed and 50-win season.
Cavs playoff debut — 38 points
Scored 38 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists in his Cleveland playoff debut; set Cavs record for points in a player's playoff debut.
Playoff career-high 13 assists in Game 2
Recorded 13 assists in Game 2 vs New York Knicks to tie series at 1-1.
Missed Games 4 and 5 of Conf. Semifinals with left calf strain; Cavs eliminated
Sidelined for parts of the Conference Semifinals against Boston due to left calf strain; Cavs eliminated in five games.
Fractured nose after elbow from teammate Tristan Thompson
Sustained a nasal fracture that later required surgery; missed at least one game and underwent procedure March 19.
Assigned to NBA G-League and recalled next day
Briefly sent to the G-League on March 11 and recalled on March 12.
Underwent nasal fracture repair procedure
Had a procedure to repair his fractured nose and was ruled out for at least a week.
Scored 50 in Game 6 of first-round vs Orlando (loss)
Scored 50 points in a Game 6 loss, accounting for 52.1% of the team's points — highest share in an opportunity-to-clinch scenario in NBA history.
Recorded 39 points in Game 7 — Cavaliers advance (first playoff series won without LeBron since 1993)
Scored 39 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in Game 7 victory to send Cavs past Magic to Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Signed three-year, $150.3M contract extension with Cavaliers
Cleveland signed Mitchell to a three-year, $150.3 million extension.
Game-winning shot vs Milwaukee Bucks
Made the game-winning bucket and finished with 30 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists in a 114–113 win.
Led Cavaliers to best record in Eastern Conference (64–18); All-NBA First Team
Cleveland finished 64–18 (best in East); Mitchell named to All-NBA First Team (2025), third player in franchise history to do so.
Named 2025 NBA All-Star (6th consecutive selection)
Selected as an Eastern Conference starter for the 2025 All-Star Game — sixth straight All-Star nod and second as a starter.
Season-high 41 points comeback vs Celtics
Scored a season-high 41 in a 123–116 comeback victory, rallying from a 22-point deficit.
Back-to-back playoff 40+ point games (48 and 43) vs Pacers
Scored 48 in Game 2 and 43 in Game 3, joining LeBron as the only Cavaliers with back-to-back 40+ playoff games in franchise history.
Broke Michael Jordan record — eight consecutive playoff openers with 30+
Scored 33 in Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals vs Indiana, setting a new record for consecutive series openers with 30+ points.
Suffered left ankle injury at halftime (Game 4); played through injury in Game 5
Injured his left ankle during halftime warm-ups in Game 4, was sidelined for the second half; started Game 5 despite injury but Cavs were eliminated.
Announced engagement to Coco Jones
Mitchell announced his engagement to singer and actress Coco Jones.
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