The Cleveland Cavaliers faced a setback in their recent game against the Orlando Magic, missing Donovan Mitchell due to an undisclosed illness, as they fell 116-109.
Mitchell’s absence was felt by Cavs fans who eagerly awaited his return to the court. However, they had the opportunity to hear from the five-time All-Star guard as he appeared on the Thanalysis podcast alongside Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
Known for his exceptional dunking prowess despite his height of 6-foot-3, Mitchell showcased his skills with a memorable All-Star dunk contest victory in 2018. Yet, even as one of the most formidable dunkers reminiscent of Dwyane Wade, Mitchell confessed to harboring some apprehension about another dunker.
When asked by Thanasis about the top five dunkers in the league presently, Mitchell listed Ja Morant, Zach Lavine, Aaron Gordon, Anthony Edwards, and himself, while also acknowledging Derrick Jones’ impressive dunking abilities. He shared on the podcast:
“Ja, Zach Lavine, Aaron Gordon, Anthony Edwards. I will put myself up there too. Five, I said Derrick Jones, did I say D-Jones? He has to be there. Every dunk contest I’ve ever lost in my life, in my lifetime, has been to Derrick Jones. Like every dunk contest I have ever been in, he’s been in the same dunk contest. I’ve lost to him every time.”
It’s worth noting that Mitchell’s remarks were not specific to the All-Star dunk contest, where both he and Jones have each claimed victory once – Mitchell in 2018 and Jones in 2020.
Mitchell further praised Derrick Jones and others for their remarkable dunking abilities:
“Ja and D-Jones are so light, that it looks crazy. I will put Zach in there too, it looks crazy when he is up there too. What he did to Aaron Gordon during that one-off contest, that was for me, crazy.”
