CLEVELAND — In the 1993 blockbuster movie “Jurassic Park,” Dr. Ian Malcolm — played by Jeff Goldblum — delivers perhaps the film’s most underrated line when stating: “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
It sounds like Cavaliers All-star guard Donovan Mitchell and Dr. Malcolm might be on the same page.
Mitchell is among the elite pure scorers in today’s NBA. Few have the capability of going nuclear as well as Mitchell when he has his A-game, and he’d be on the short list of players expected to contend for a scoring title.
But to Mitchell, it’s more of a question of if he should win the scoring title, as opposed to if he could.
After the Cavs’ Nov. 8 win over the Chicago Bulls, in which Mitchell followed a weak first half with a light-the-world-on-fire flurry in the second half, he was asked, if he really wanted to, could he lead the league in scoring. His response: “I mean, yeah, but is that what we need?”
“I mean, it’s more so like, what do we need as opposed to what could I do, you know what I’m saying?” Mitchell continued. “I just feel like my role is a little different than those guys who are [leading the league in scoring]. Obviously I’m scoring at a high level, but it’s not what we need to get to that ultimate point.”
Donovan Mitchell stats
Mitchell (30.2 average) entered the Cavs’ Nov. 21 game against the Indiana Pacers as one of six players in the NBA scoring at least 30 points per game, trailing only Luka Doncic (34.6), Tyrese Maxey (33.4), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33.4), Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.8 and Lauri Markkanen 30.6, who was included in the package to acquire Mitchell from the Utah Jazz.
A Cavs player hasn’t led the league in total scoring since LeBron James paced the league in 2017-18. And a Cleveland player hasn’t been the league leader in points per game since James did so in 2007-08.
When Mitchell enters the type of zone that some stars can, he becomes one of the best offensive weapons in the league. The Bulls game was one example. Mitchell pouring in 71 points against those same Bulls in January 2023 was another. There have been many more.
“That’s the star quality that makes this a great league. There’s only a handful of players that can do that,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He can do it. Steph [Curry] can do it. Just a very, very few players in our league.”
But trying to do that across a full workload of minutes isn’t always the most efficient way for the Cavs to score at a high rate when All-Stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley and others are on the floor. That efficiency is what Mitchell grapples with when considering the idea of winning a scoring title.
“No, because at the end of the day, what does that accomplishment for the group?” Mitchell said. “At the end of the day, I talk all about sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice. Does that mean I don’t get talked about in the same light as certain people? For sure, but that’s the sacrifice.
“But at the end of day you win championships, the whole discussion changes. I’m not here to just figure out the Donovan Awards.”
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Donovan Mitchell isn’t sure leading NBA in scoring is best for Cavs
Reporting by Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
