Donovan Mitchell Praises LeBron James' Longevity Amid Cavaliers Reunion Speculation

The Cavaliers star spoke highly of James' impressive play in his 23rd NBA season.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell praised LeBron James' longevity and continued high-level play in his 23rd NBA season, amid speculation that the Cavaliers could pursue a reunion with James in the offseason. Mitchell acknowledged that while the idea of playing with James would be "special," his current focus is on helping the Cavaliers win a championship this season after acquiring James Harden at the trade deadline.

Why it matters

LeBron James' future has been a topic of discussion as he approaches the end of his legendary career. A potential reunion with the Cavaliers, the team that drafted him in 2003, would be a storybook ending and give James a chance to win another title with the franchise. Mitchell's comments suggest the Cavaliers are open to the idea, though they remain focused on their current season.

The details

Donovan Mitchell, who is putting together one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 29.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game, defended James' play this season. Despite being in his 23rd year, the 38-year-old James is still averaging 22.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game on 50.2% shooting from the field and 30.5% from 3-point range for the Los Angeles Lakers.

  • LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.
  • James played for the Cavaliers for 7 seasons before leaving for the Miami Heat in 2010.
  • James returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 and led them to an NBA championship in 2016.
  • James left the Cavaliers again in 2018 to join the Los Angeles Lakers, where he has played for the past 8 seasons.

The players

LeBron James

A 21-time NBA All-Star, 4-time NBA champion, and 4-time NBA MVP who is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in his 23rd NBA season.

Donovan Mitchell

The current star of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who is averaging 29.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game this season.

James Harden

An 8-time NBA All-Star who was recently acquired by the Cavaliers in a trade with the Cavaliers.

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What they’re saying

“In year 23, for him to be doing what he's doing is impressive. You look at the longevity of it, how he takes care of his body, his mind, how he still performs at a high level. He's done a lot for our game and it's a blessing to be around that.”

— Donovan Mitchell (SI.com)

“As a Bron fan, to be able to be a teammate would obviously be special. But that's something not in my control. (...) There's always going to be reports. It's natural, it's going to be a thing. But at the end of the day, to your point, my main focus right now is trying to get this championship. And whatever happens, it happens. (...) I mean, it's LeBron James, right?”

— Donovan Mitchell (SI.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will continue their pursuit of an NBA championship this season, with Mitchell, Harden, and the rest of the team focused on making a deep playoff run. The offseason will bring speculation about LeBron James' future, and whether he could reunite with the Cavaliers to finish his career.

The takeaway

Donovan Mitchell's praise for LeBron James' longevity and continued excellence suggests the Cavaliers are open to the idea of reuniting with the future Hall of Famer. However, Mitchell's primary focus remains on helping the Cavaliers win a championship this season, rather than getting caught up in offseason speculation.