Donovan Mitchell has made a career out of proving people wrong. From his 71-point explosion against the Bulls in 2023 to carrying Cleveland deep into the playoffs, Mitchell has built his resume on moments that felt bigger than the box score. But apparently, none of that stopped him from catching an early snub in the 2028 Olympic roster debates. And it’s coming from some of the loudest voices in basketball media.

On the Zach Lowe show, Lowe started emphatically: “Okay. Here’s the guy that I think the established star player that just has to be on the team and is going to be in the thick of his prime is I have Donovan Mitchell. Do you have Donovan Mitchell?” Bill Simmons didn’t think twice, as if he was waiting for the question to pop all along: “Did not have Donovan Mitchell.” 

Cue the shock from Lowe: “Wow. Okay.” But Simmons didn’t stop there. He doubled down, saying, “I think he’ll be in it. Won’t he be in his 30s at this point? I don’t think he made my cut-off. No, I think he will because he’s like 20, 28, or 29 right now.” And to Lowe’s credit, he fired back with a one-liner for the ages: “This is ageism.” But Simmons wasn’t budging.

“What? He’s 29 right now. He’d be 33. Too old. Get out of here, Donovan Mitchell. You’re not invited.” Mitchell has never been the type to fade into the background, though. His prime scoring numbers, six All-Star appearances, and playoff mileage argue for themselves. Whether Team USA sees him as indispensable or expendable, the conversation has already begun years in advance. The back-and-forth was funny, but it wasn’t just banter.

Mitchell has been one of the most consistent bucket-getters in the NBA, averaging 24.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.5 rebounds on 44.3% shooting per game and ramping up his efficiency each season. He’s also logged eight straight playoff appearances, something that should weigh heavily when considering Olympic rosters. Still, Simmons’ logic is what stuck.

If Mitchell is 33 in 2028, does he still count as “in his prime” against the likes of younger stars waiting in line? Though the Olympic snub conversation is really just a sneak peek into something bigger.

As Jimmy Watkins, speaking on the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, put it: “And so we’re kind of at a real crossroads here for Donovan. Like, are you going to become one of these capital G guys or what? And that’s crucial. That’s crucial. We’re at a very interesting point in his career.” This crossroads in question isn’t only about Team USA.

Donovan Mitchell and the $380M at stake 

It’s about the Cleveland Cavaliers. About free agency. And about a $380 million decision hovering just around the corner. Ethan Sans laid out the math even clearly, saying, “Yeah. And one of the most interesting points about Donovan Mitchell’s career at this juncture is his contract, right? Because, as we know, he signed a three-year extension with a player option. After the 2023 2024 season, Donovan Mitchell signed that extension. So, he is on contract until after the 2026 2027 year, right? So that’ll be his year 30 season.”

He continued, “After that, he will also have 10 years of recruited service and he will have a player option for the 2027 2028 season. But we all know that Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers will be trying to work out an extension before then so that the Cavs are not shaking in their boots when it comes to their star player’s availability on the roster in years to come.” To put it simply? 

If Mitchell waits until after his 10th year of service, he’s eligible for a five-year extension worth more than $380 million. The biggest contract of his life. The kind of deal that could define his legacy almost as much as championships do. But there’s a catch. As Sans pointed out, Mitchell might decide he doesn’t want to spend his best remaining years stuck on a Cavs roster that hasn’t shown it can push past the second round.

“If this Cavs roster… is not capable of helping him get out of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Eastern Conference Finals to the NBA Finals… Donovan Mitchell could choose to go somewhere else if he does not deem the Cavs the best fit for him to win a championship.” This is the tension baked into the Simmons vs. Lowe debate. It isn’t just about whether Mitchell is Olympic material in 2028. It’s whether he’s going to level up into the stratosphere of players who define eras.

So far, Mitchell has the stats, the All-Star nods, and the playoff highlights. What he doesn’t have? A Finals run. A chip. The kind of validation that moves a guy from “great scorer” to “capital G Guy,” as Watkins called it. If he gets there, Simmons’ age-based snub might look laughable. If he doesn’t, maybe Simmons was just early with the harsh truth.

For now, Mitchell is still a Cavalier, still one of the NBA’s premier guards, and still a player who makes defenses miserable every night. But the timelines are colliding fast: Team USA decisions, Cleveland’s championship window, and that $380 million carrot dangling in 2027. Which way does Donovan Mitchell go? That’s the real story to watch.