Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the Eastern Conference after the regular season and the Indiana Pacers were the ones who made it to the NBA championship. Only one of these two is expected to be up there in the standings again and for Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell, it is the New York Knicks who they have to go through.
The Knicks were the Eastern Conference finalists after their victory over the 2024 champs Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, they did not have enough against the Pacers who were on a magical run from start up to the second quarter of the Game 7 of the NBA finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Knicks retooled their bench and hired a new coach and Mitchell believes they also got better overall.
“They’re ECF and championship contenders,” Mitchell told reporters after Cleveland practice.
“If we wanna get to where we want, we have to go through them. Nothing but respect to them.”
Donovan Mitchell Acknowledges Knicks as serious ECF and Championship Threats
“They’re ECF and championship contenders. If we wanna get to where we want, we have to go through them. Nothing but respect to them.” pic.twitter.com/uppzWogmqm
— Big Knick Energy (@BigKnickEnergy_) October 20, 2025
Cavs has the Knicks as their first assignment for the 2025-26 season when they clash on Wednesday at the Madison Square Garden.
Donovan Mitchell wants to empower teammates
Mitchell was the team’s top scorer, has been since he arrived there in 2022. Cavs will continue to need his offense but head coach Kenny Atkinson challenged him to affect the game aside from putting the ball to the basket.
The six-time All-Star did not hesitate to accept the challenge.
“I don’t mean, like obviously, when I have the ball in my hands, I can score more, but like, putting guys at that level where it is empowerment,” he said.
“You know, look in the mirror and say, ‘How can I get others better?’ That was the next jump for me, and he was really challenging me on that.”
Cleveland got Darius Garland as their starting point guard and is very effective in the role. However, recurring injuries make him several games and for this new season, he is not expected in the opening night as he is still recovering a surgery to repair his injured toe.
Mitchell becoming a multiple threat on the floor will be crucial for the team to achieve a strong start to the season.
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