Donovan Mitchell All Star Snub Stuns Cavaliers Fans

Merlin sees the NBA unveiled its 2026 All-Star starters and Donovan Mitchell was left off the East’s five despite averaging 29.2 points, 5.7 assists and 3.9 threes, leading the league in total triples and ranking near the top in estimated plus minus and estimated wins. Cleveland is 24-20, and Mitchell finished sixth in fan voting, even though the Cavs are +7.1 per 100 possessions with him on the floor and his on/off differential is a staggering 12.5. Merlin notes the spellbinding truth: numbers alone do not sway narratives. Market size, rising young stars like Maxey and Cunningham, and Brown’s visible role in Boston tilt perception against Mitchell. To change the story, Mitchell must turn individual brilliance into team wins and deeper playoff runs; that kind of magic rewrites ballots.