In a move that has sparked plenty of buzz, Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson didn’t hold back when he lashed out at NBA general managers for Donovan Mitchell’s snub in their recent preseason survey. Mitchell, a star player for the Cavs, was notably left off the list of the top five shooting guards—an omission Thompson finds not only puzzling but downright disrespectful.
NBA GMs Take Heat: Why Donovan Mitchell’s Snub Is a Travesty
Speaking to the media, Thompson made it clear that Mitchell is “easily” one of the NBA’s best at his position, and he’s baffled by the exclusion:
“Just use it as fuel,” Thompson said. “Go out there and kick their ass. ‘Oh, you didn’t put me on your list? Watch this.’ And when the GMs are lounging in their golf shirts, just stroll past them and hold it down.”
Thompson didn’t stop there, throwing some serious shade at the GMs. “There are 30 teams in the league. Let’s say there are four guys as good as Mitchell—what about the other 25? He’s better than their best player. And those teams are probably stuck with overpaid players they can’t trade because they’re not good enough. Meanwhile, Donovan’s a top-five shooting guard. Sounds like some GMs need to reconsider their decisions.”
The survey, released earlier this week, listed Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, and Luka Dončić as the top five shooting guards, with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White also receiving votes.
There’s some controversy here: both Dončić and Curry were also ranked among the top three point guards in the same survey. So, are they point guards or shooting guards? If GMs could only vote players at their primary position, Thompson argues Mitchell would definitely crack the top five. It’s a valid point, especially considering Jaylen Brown’s role as both a shooting guard and small forward.
Mitchell’s exclusion isn’t new, though. Since entering the league in 2017, he’s never been ranked among the top five at his position, nor has he received enough votes to make the list. This year is no different. But it’s hard to deny that the shooting guard position is stacked with talent, and Mitchell’s postseason record might be holding him back. Despite being an All-Star for five straight years and consistently averaging over 20 points per game, Mitchell’s teams have only made it past the first round three times in seven postseason runs, with no conference finals appearances.
Still, Thompson stands firm in his support for Mitchell. The spotlight is now on Mitchell to prove the doubters wrong and solidify his place among the NBA’s elite. The question remains—how long will the GMs keep overlooking him?
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