The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the most exciting teams to watch this NBA season. Their new addition of Donovan Mitchell has worked wonders as he has taken the team to the next level. His gameplay has caught the attention of the entire NBA fraternity and most people have applauded the start that the Cavaliers have had till now.
Amidst all of the people who have taken notice, Shaquille O’Neal is surely one of them. But the Big Diesel wants to see how far Mitchell can go with this team. He knows that Spida can be really good on his day but he wants him to push for greatness.
In the past Donovan Mitchell has time and again proven that he is one of the elite players in the NBA especially among guards. He has led the Utah Jazz in the past with aplomb alongwith Rudy Gobert. But despite his leadership in Utah he did not guide the team to the NBA Championship.
So Shaq wants him to push for greatness as he sees that spark in Donovan Mitchell. Therefore he challenged the Cavaliers guard openly on the ‘The Big Podcast’. “You can be good, but can you be great? Once you become great, can you become greater than everybody else? Once you become greater than everybody else, can you become the greatest? I want to see how far I can push this kid. I think he can be one of the greatest ever, because I see it in him,” Shaq addressed Mitchell.
Shaq compared Mitchell’s situation with his time with Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. He shared how leaders uplift others and create other leaders. “And guess what? I did the same thing to Penny Hardaway. I do the same thing to Kobe Bryant. I did the same thing to D-Wade,” O’Neal said. “I know exactly what I’m doing, because leaders create other leaders. Don’t forget it,” he added.
The Cavaliers took a chance with Donovan Mitchell this summer as they thought he would be the ideal player to lead the team and till now it has worked like a charm. He has enjoyed his time with the likes of Darius Garland in backcourt and also with young talented players like Evan Mobley, Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro playing around him. After losing to the Raptors in their first match, the Cavs have won six consecutive games and are second behind the unbeaten Milwaukee Bucks with a 6-1 record.
