By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A reunion is coming up, part of the next edition of NBA Sundays. Donovan Mitchell will catch up with Rudy Gobert as the Cleveland Cavaliers welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Since being selected with the 13th overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft, Mitchell was paired with the French center at the Utah Jazz. Playoff berths were clinched in all joined efforts but only two series were won over the next five years. Last offseason, both pillars were traded as the franchise turned to rebuild.
“I felt it was coming,” the explosive shooting guard told The Athletic, “So I embraced it and I started to accept it. After Rudy got traded, it was like, ‘Okay, this is the direction we’re going, like, why not?’”
“We gave Utah a lot of special moments,” he went into details about Gobert, “We have a great relationship, despite what people may feel. On the court, it didn’t work. I don’t hate Rudy. He doesn’t hate me. It was just one of those things where it just didn’t work out, and I feel like we live in a world where everybody’s gotta hate each other and there’s gotta be some negative thing and that’s just not the case. When I see him on Sunday, I’m gonna give him a hug and smile and laugh. And when we’re on the court, it’s time to go at it. That’s really what it is.”
On a three-game losing streak, the Cavs carry an 8-4 record. Mitchell averaged 31.6 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per contest starting his run with the Ohio franchise.
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