In the best league in the world, it is difficult to relax from the unusual performance of Donovan Mitchell, who was responsible tonight (between Monday and Tuesday) for one of the greatest performances in the history of the NBA.
The star bombed 71 points in Cleveland's 134:145 victory over Chicago just after overtime and went straight into the history pages.
This is the highest number of points scored this season by one player and a franchise record for a Cubs player.
And if that's not enough, it's actually the eighth straight performance by a player in the best league in the world and the most points since Kobe Bryant's 81 points in the memorable game against Toronto on January 22, 2006.
New Year New Me😂… 71 of them thangs ‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/eqTSqAEKk8
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) January 3, 2023
Pay attention to Mitchell's statistical line: 71 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds.
22 of 34 from the field, 7 of 15 from three, 20 of 25 from the free throw line.
The all-time record is held by Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 points in the memorable game in 1962.
The star of the Cubs became the eighth player in NBA history with over 70 points in a game, when in fact only three players to date have scored more than him in one game - Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and David Thompson.
🗣 MVP MVP MVP MVP#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/EZq62CnA0i
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) January 3, 2023
The star of the night summed up the biggest game of his life: "I definitely feel blessed. To enter the history books next to a player like Wilt, it's the most exciting thing ever. I always believed that I could become one of the best players in the league. I was speechless. Even in NBA2K I didn't have a game Like this. Maybe I scored a similar number of points but not as efficiently..".
🕷️ you're INSANE!!!!!
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 3, 2023
Throughout the league, it was difficult to ignore Mitchell's great performance, such as LeBron James, who was flattered: "Donovan proved tonight that he is one of the best in the league at burying points on the board. If you reach 70 points, then you must be unusually talented. There is no doubt He will never forget this game."
🔥🔥🔥 @spidadmitchell straight fire!!
71 points!!
😱😱
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) January 3, 2023
Kyrie Irving.
The Nets star added: "We played 'Call of Duty' earlier today, even then I knew Donovan would come from Fox to the game. I'm happy for him, records are meant to be broken."
Kevin Love, who knows a thing or two about what it's like to play for the Cubs, added: "This performance by Mitchell is the greatest I've seen in my 15 years in the NBA."
71 points for Donovan Mitchell in one of the greatest performances of all time in the NBA, photo: AP
Cubs coach JB Bickerstaff flattered: "I don't know how many players in the league can do what Mitchell did here tonight. I've never seen a show like that, tonight we witnessed one of the greatest performances in history. His every move was necessary. Tell me, how is it possible Not to like such a player?".
71 points for Donovan Mitchell in one of the greatest performances of all time in the NBA, photo: Reuters
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