CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Donovan Mitchell will have company later this month in San Francisco during All-Star weekend.
Cavs guard Darius Garland and forward Evan Mobley were named All-Star reserves Thursday night.
“So proud,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Listen, you can't take that from them. They'll have it on their resumes the rest of their lives and it's unique and I don't know, to have three guys on the All-Star team, I mean that's phenomenal. I'm glad, really happy media coaches. They recognized how good those guys have been.”
This is the first selection for Mobley and second for Garland. Mitchell was already named a starter.
“Man, this is awesome,” Mitchell said. “I think it's a testament to our team. It's a testament to their hard work. I think for us, just seeing the growth in my two years, three years and then for the fans and everybody here, seeing them grow up in front of their eyes. For Darius, it's the second one for Evan, this is his first one. I think it's a big time.”
Garland is averaging 21.7 points, 6.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds while shooting 49.9% from the field, including 42.5% from three.
“It means a lot,” Garland said. “I remember last year around this time I was at home with a jaw wired shut, couldn't eat, couldn't talk. So being here today, it's a blessing. All the hard work put in and sacrifices and then it's a testament to the team as well, going 15-0 and having a great start like that and then just to continue to winning, that helps a lot.”
Mobley is having a career year and emerging as a dominant force averaging 18.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals per game.
“I feel like it's just a big goal for anyone that comes into the league, and that was definitely a goal coming into this year and I was striving every day to meet that goal,” Mobley said. “And for it to finally be here and finally find out today before the game, it was definitely exciting and honestly a little surreal. But, I mean, the more I think about it, I just want more and more, and that's my whole mantra is just trying to get better every day. And this is just one step and I'm just going to try to keep going for more.”
Atkinson, who has Cleveland an NBA-best 39-9, will coach All-Star weekend as well. He hoped a fourth Cav might join them too, center Jarrett Allen.
“I thought that was [deserving], especially with our historic start,” Atkinson said. “I thought it could turn that way. So a little disappointed in that.”