The Cavaliers are on an absolute tear, dominating teams on both ends and stacking up wins like its nothing. They’re now one victory away from pushing their streak to 15, but there’s one problem—their star guard might not be on floor on Tuesday against the Nets. The Nets are not to be taken lightly, they just beat the Lakers, a top team in the West and have their eyes set on the Cavs now.

The Cavs problem? Donovan Mitchell popped up on the injury report Tuesday afternoon with left groin soreness, which already ruled him out for Tuesday’s game. Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson, however, isn’t too worried. “In Charlotte, there was a little bit of soreness,” he explained before Tuesday’s game, making it clear this isn’t expected to be a long-term issue.

Last year, he tweaked his knee in late February, tried to push through it, and ended up missing even more time. By the time the Cavs faced the Celtics in the second round, he wasn’t even able to play in the last two games.

Cleveland doesn’t want to make that same mistake again. They know keeping Mitchell fresh is the bigger picture, even if it means sacrificing a game or two right now. The 5x All-Star has barely missed time this season, sitting out just four games. Funny enough, the Cavs haven’t lost a single one, going a perfect 4-0 without him. Missing their star isn’t ideal, but Cleveland steps up and clinches wins every time he sits out.

Furthermore, Spida has been a force this season. In 60 games, he’s averaging 24.2 points while shooting 45.1% from the field and 38.4% from deep. He’s also grabbing 4.3 rebounds, dishing out 4.8 assists, and swiping 1.3 steals per game.

Mitchell’s numbers speak for themselves, but his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. Even with slightly lower averages than some MVP frontrunners, his presence has made Cleveland a powerhouse. That brings up an interesting question—shouldn’t the best player on the best team be in the MVP conversation?

Kenny Atkinson believes Donovan Mitchell should be in the top 3 in the MVP race

Since the season began, the Cavaliers have been on a mission, dominating opponents and cementing themselves as one of the league’s best teams. Yet, despite Cleveland’s success, Donovan Mitchell isn’t getting much MVP buzz—a fact that Kenny Atkinson doesn’t agree with.

“I hope we will (have Donovan in the top three of MVP voting),” Atkinson said after Cleveland’s win over Milwaukee. “If you look at Shai, Shai’s having a great year, Donovan is right there. Just for argument’s sake, best player on best team.”

Mitchell’s stats don’t match Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, or Giannis Antetokounmpo, but that’s because he doesn’t have to carry the load every night. The Cavs are built differently, and his willingness to step back has only made them stronger. Evan Mobley’s breakout season? Mitchell’s presence plays a huge role in that.

But don’t mistake balance for passivity. When the Cavs need him, Mitchell steps up—just look at his 41-point explosion in Cleveland’s comeback win over Boston. That game doesn’t happen without him.

MVP isn’t just about scoring, and Mitchell’s impact goes far beyond putting up points. His leadership and ability to elevate this Cavs squad prove just how valuable he really is.