Donovan Mitchell may have unintentionally inspired NBA players to reconsider how they prepare for games.
The Cleveland Cavaliers star recently discussed his historic 71-point performance against the Chicago Bulls and revealed that he had a few drinks the previous night while celebrating New Year's Eve.
"We played them on New Year's Eve," Mitchell said on the "Cousins" podcast with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. "Then we had New Year's in Cleveland. Then we played the next day. Now I will say this. I've never drank before a game in my life. It was New Year's. So I did have a drink — a few drinks — the night before the game."
New York Knicks veteran Josh Hart immediately recognized the unintended consequence of Mitchell's admission.
"Bro about to have people taking shots before the game," Hart wrote on X.
Mitchell's unusual preparation certainly did not prevent him from producing the best scoring performance of his career.
He finished with 71 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as Cleveland overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat Chicago 145-134 in overtime on Jan. 2, 2023. Mitchell shot 22-for-34 from the field, made seven 3-pointers and converted 20 of his 25 free-throw attempts.
The 71 points established a Cavaliers franchise record and tied Mitchell for the eighth-highest single-game scoring total in NBA history at the time. It also represented the most points scored by an NBA player since Kobe Bryant's 81-point performance in 2006.
Mitchell forced overtime with one of the night's most memorable plays. He intentionally missed a late free throw, collected the rebound and scored to tie the game before dominating the extra period.
His recent story provided a surprising detail about the hours preceding that unforgettable performance.
Still, it would be misleading to treat the drinks as a genuine performance enhancer. Mitchell's conditioning, shot-making and competitive response to falling behind made the historic night possible.
Hart's reaction was consistent with the sense of humor he regularly displays on social media.
The Knicks guard and Mitchell have exchanged playful trash talk over the years, including debates connected to their favorite New York baseball teams. Their interactions have continued even while New York and Cleveland developed into Eastern Conference rivals.
That rivalry became more meaningful during the 2026 postseason. Hart helped the Knicks sweep the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, including a playoff career-high 26 points in Game 2. Mitchell complimented Hart afterward, specifically mentioning a difficult one-handed spin move he converted.
New York went on to win the NBA championship, while Cleveland entered the offseason searching for answers after another disappointing finish.
Hart's latest joke was not about the rivalry or the playoffs. It was simply the perfect response to a story that sounded too bizarre to be true.
Mitchell should not expect opposing players to copy his New Year's Eve routine. If they do, however, Hart already knows exactly whom they are going to blame.
