Cavs' Mitchell credits 2019 Rockets for playoff prep

Donovan Mitchell says Houston series helped Cleveland prepare for postseason run.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:41am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting an intense basketball game or playoff matchup, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in the Cavaliers' wine and gold colors and the Rockets' red and white, conveying the competitive energy and strategic complexity of the NBA playoffs.Donovan Mitchell's past battles against the Rockets' James Harden helped shape his playoff readiness with the Cavaliers years later.Houston Today

In the 2019 NBA playoffs, Donovan Mitchell's Utah Jazz faced off against James Harden's Houston Rockets. Though the teams were rivals on the court, Mitchell says that experience helped prepare him and the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he now plays, for their own playoff run years later.

Why it matters

The NBA playoffs are often marked by intense rivalries and animosity between teams. However, this story highlights how even fierce competitors can learn from each other and form bonds that transcend the game.

The details

Back in 2019, Mitchell's Jazz and Harden's Rockets engaged in a hard-fought playoff series. Though the Rockets prevailed, Mitchell says that experience of facing a top-tier opponent helped him and the Cavaliers, his current team, when they made their own playoff push years later.

  • The 2019 NBA playoffs took place in the spring of that year.
  • Mitchell now plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who made the playoffs in the 2025-26 season.

The players

Donovan Mitchell

An All-Star guard who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James Harden

A former NBA MVP who played for the Houston Rockets during the 2019 playoffs.

Cleveland Cavaliers

An NBA team that made the playoffs in the 2025-26 season.

Utah Jazz

The NBA team that Donovan Mitchell played for in 2019.

Houston Rockets

The NBA team that James Harden played for in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“That 2019 series with the Rockets really helped prepare me and the Cavs for the playoffs. Even though we were rivals, I learned a lot from that experience that I was able to apply later on.”

— Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers Guard

The takeaway

This story shows how even the fiercest NBA rivalries can lead to mutual respect and valuable lessons that transcend the game. Mitchell's experience facing the Rockets in 2019 helped shape his playoff readiness, demonstrating how competition can foster growth and connection.