Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell had no interest in LeBron James-related questions Monday night.
Despite their best efforts, the Cavaliers were swept by the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, 130-93, at Rocket Arena. A dejected Mitchell faced the media in the aftermath and answered a multitude of questions. One query stopped him cold.
A reporter asked Mitchell to address rampant speculation about James possibly leaving the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason to rejoin Cleveland. The Cavs superstar shut down the question completely.
"We just ended the game, Joe," a baffled Mitchell said. "That's not for me. I'm not going to answer that. That's not for me. That's a Koby Altman question. That's a Mike Gansey question. Because I know no matter what I say, no matter how I say it and how I try to navigate it, it's going to be a thing."
Mitchell doubled down, making clear the matter belonged to Cavaliers brass. His commitment to the current roster was all he would offer.
"So I'm sorry, Joe," Mitchell continued. "I'm not going to give you anything. You're going to have to ask Koby and them. All I know is what we got in the locker room, and I go to ride with those guys every single day of the week. That's all I got."
Mitchell did his part to try to extend Cleveland's season. He finished with 31 points on 9-of-18 shooting, four rebounds in 32 minutes. The Knicks were simply the better team throughout the series.
Questions now arise about the Cavaliers' future following the playoff exit. There has been a reported mutual interest between the Cavs organization and James about a possible reunion.
The 41-year-old has had two stints with his hometown team and delivered the franchise its only NBA title in 2016.
In an earlier interview, Mitchell told SiriusXM NBA Radio it would be "special" to play with James.
After getting swept by the Knicks, Mitchell was not ready for that conversation. The wounds were too fresh. Even a discussion involving the league's all-time leading scorer would have to wait.
