Donovan Mitchell Rips ‘Bulls–t’ Predictions Leaving Him Off 2028 USA Olympic Roster

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the second quarter of game three of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 11, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 106-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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It’s safe to say Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell believes he should be on the United States men’s basketball team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

He revealed as much during an episode of Wave Sports + Entertainment’s 7PM in Brooklyn:

“First of all, I think Book’s [Devin Booker] approach I think should be every hooper’s approach,” he said. “His ‘I’ll do it [tweet]’ I respect the hell out of that because that’s the same type of time I’m on. I’m not going to lie. I saw myself not in a lot of roster predictions. It’s bulls–t. But it is what it is. At the end of the day. If that’s, that’s what people feel like I just got to do more. That’s kind of been my whole mindset, but I feel like I deserve to be right in that [conversation].

“…You’re not the first person to talk to me about this, but in my first year in Cleveland, I’m an All-Star starter, All-NBA. Now granted, I put the work in, don’t get it twisted but there’s other s–t that goes with that. So I feel like that’s part of it, but obviously you got to win. Realistically, I look at myself as one of the top 10-15 players in this league, but I haven’t made it to a Conference Finals. So in order for me to make the jump, I can’t sit here and get mad… because this is an accolades-based world we live in whether it’s right, wrong, or indifferent.

“It is what it is. So until that happens, I got to continue to plug and plug. I’m not shocked when I see it, it’s more like ‘alright bet!’ and it’s more of a thank you to me, like every year I got something. There’s never complacency. And then when that day comes and I win a chip, I’m probably going to be like my man JT [Jayson Tatum] saying every [damn] meme that I’ve seen.”

The Booker post that Mitchell referred to happened in September 2023 when the Phoenix Suns guard responded to a call from Kyle Kuzma saying Team USA needed some stars to embrace more defined roles.


That is exactly what he did during the 2024 Paris Olympics and helped lead the Americans to gold. He appeared in all six games and averaged 11.7 points, 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds while taking a backseat at times to LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.

Head coach Steve Kerr even told reporters Booker was the team’s “unsung MVP” during the Games.

That Mitchell is seemingly open to such a role in 2028 will likely help his chances to make the roster. There could be plenty of turnover, as aging stars such as James, Curry and Durant may not be back for the upcoming Olympics. That means there will be plenty of competition, and Mitchell sounded ready to embrace that.

Leading the Cavaliers on a deep playoff run in the coming seasons would surely be an ideal place to start.