CLEVELAND — In the midst of his best statistical season as an NBA player and having already been selected to this year's All-Star game, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell will compete in the Three-Point Contest later this month in Indianapolis.
He joins a star-studded lineup consisting of a pair of Milwaukee Bucks guards in Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (who ironically was part of the trade that brought Mitchell to Cleveland).
Mitchell's play has helped the Cavaliers jump from the bottom half of the Eastern Conference standings to the No. 3 seed in the last month and a half, all while missing Darius Garland and Evan Mobley for the vast majority of that time.
The five-time All Star has seen increases compared to his career averages across the board in several key statistics including rebounds (5.5), assists (6.4), steals (1.9), and blocks (0.5) and is only 0.1 points behind his career high points per game average he set last season at 28.3. Mitchell is in the top 10 of all league players in efficiency rating, ahead of other superstars like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Lebron James.
Ironically, one of the only categories Mitchell falls behind his career averages in this season is his three-point field goal percentage, down to 35.1% from last year's career high of 38.6%. This year will mark Mitchell's second time competing in the Three-Point Contest. He finished fourth place in his first appearance in 2021, and declined an opportunity last year after he was extended an invitation to participate.
Cavs players have won the Three-Point Contest a total of three times, with Mark Price going back-to-back in 1993 and '94 followed by Kyrie Irving in 2013.