It’s been brewing for a while—Cavs fans feeling slighted by the national media. Even as their team racks up wins, the spotlight rarely shines their way. Just last December, a passionate fan page voiced its frustration: “The Cleveland Cavaliers are 27-4 this season, and the national media is barely talking about it. Keep it quiet! Cleveland’s just fine with that.” But if the lack of recognition bothers the Cavs, they sure aren’t showing it on the court.

And now with the win against Brooklyn Nets makes them a playoffs contender. And Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal feel Cavs can go beyond that. “Hopefully this is their year to get it done,” Shaq said. But to do that, both Shaq and Chuck feel it’s Cavs’ 28-year-old superstar Donovan Mitchell’s duty.

Why? Shaq explains, “Boston has that experience. Boston and others play well. The only missing piece for Cleveland—not really a missing piece, because Donovan has been playing well. I’m very happy for him, proud of him.” But there was a warning, too. “If he has any slippage, Cleveland can be beat.”

And Barkley? He’s even more direct. “Donovan’s going to have to play great. When you are, and we talk about this a lot when we’re doing March Madness, people make basketball too hard. Your best players have to play the best,” he stated before making it clear: “Donovan Mitchell is the best player on the Cavs. That is the responsibility when you’re a star. He has to play well.”

So, can Mitchell deliver? Well, the last time the Cavs met the Celtics in December, he sure did. Cleveland took a 115-111 win, with Mitchell dropping 30 points in the second half—20 of those in the fourth quarter alone.

If that’s any indication, he’s more than capable of carrying this team when it matters most.

Donovan Mitchell gives hope to Shaq and Chuck

It didn’t take long for Donovan Mitchell to remind everyone why he’s the Cavs’ heartbeat. Just hours ago, he dropped 26 points to lead Cleveland to a 110-97 win over the Brooklyn Nets. However, it wasn’t just Mitchell shining, though—four Cavs players hit double figures, keeping Cleveland (45-10) firmly atop the Eastern Conference standings.

But it was how they took control that stood out. Cleveland exploded with an 11-0 run in just 1 minute and 41 seconds late in the third quarter, flipping a 69-63 deficit into a 74-69 lead. They never looked back after that.

And now, head coach Kenny Atkinson has his eyes set on the playoffs, using the final 28 games as a testing ground. “You have to have a sense of urgency,” Atkinson said before the game. And of course Mitchell will be central to that push.

But it’s not just Mitchell’s scoring that impresses his coach. “It’s amazing. I’ve never seen a guy [like him]. He never gets down. You’d think guys would kick the chair or get frustrated. He has a great demeanor about him and never gets too down or too high,” Atkinson once described Mitchell’s mentality.

So, can that calmness carry Cleveland through the playoffs? As long as Mitchell stays healthy and in-form, Shaquille O’Neal and Sir Charles seem convinced.