It was recently announced that Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers will be part of the upcoming NBA All-Star three-point contest.
It’s one of the most-watched events during All-Star Weekend and Mitchell could have quite an impact on the league if he does well.
However, he originally didn’t plan to participate.
Speaking with Hayden Grove, Mitchell revealed that it was Cavaliers teammate Sam Merrill who was originally going to be in the three-point contest later this month.
But when Merrill decided he wanted to spend time with his family instead, Mitchell decided to sign up and attempt to win it for himself, Merrill, and the rest of the team.
He also added that he feels confident and good about his chances of winning, although he knows the competition will be intense.
Donovan Mitchell said Sam Merrill didn’t want to participate in the 3-Point Contest because he wanted to spend time with his family, so he volunteered. #Cavs pic.twitter.com/uOy0j9Tf6R
— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) February 6, 2024
Reportedly, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks, Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz, and Malik Beasley also of the Bucks, will participate in this year’s event.
That means that Mitchell has his work cut out for him.
So far this season, he is sinking 35.4% of his three-point attempts.
Meanwhile, Merrill has landed 44.3% of his, meaning he may have been a better fit but had every reason to enjoy time with his loved ones instead.
Mitchell will be the only one representing the Cavaliers during this month’s All-Star Weekend, as he has been selected as a reserve player for the Eastern Conference.
That means that Cavaliers fans will be seeing a lot of the team’s biggest star and are excited to see what he can do, from the three-point line and beyond.
NEXT: Cavs Tie Their Most Impressive Streak In Team History
