Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell threw some friendly shade at Phoenix Suns small forward Kevin Durant, saying the two-time NBA Finals MVP doesn’t need a “bag” since he’s tall.
Mitchell said Dallas Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic has a deeper bag than Durant and Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a deeper bag than Doncic.
Mitchell, Durant, Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic are four of the best players in the NBA. Durant has guard-like s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s despite being so tall. He’s universally recognized as one of the most unstoppable offensive weapons in NBA history.
However, Mitchell believes Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander have deeper bags than Durant out of necessity. KD can shoot over anyone, while Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander have to use their ball s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s to create separation.
Mitchell, Durant, Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic all had terrific statistical seasons in 2022-23. Mitchell averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the Cavaliers, Durant averaged 29.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Brooklyn Nets and Suns, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Thunder and Doncic averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Mavericks.
The Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games. It’s not the way Mitchell envisioned his first season in Cleveland ending. Meanwhile, Durant and the Suns lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games.
Neither the Thunder nor the Mavericks made the 2023 postseason. OKC lost the 8-9 play-in game to the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Dallas didn’t even qualify for the play-in tournament.
The Mavericks were only 5-11 in games Doncic and Kyrie Irving played together this season. That was the worst winning percentage (.313) for a pair of teammates who were both All-Stars since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976-77, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
