Kenny Atkinson isn’t concerned about Donovan Mitchell’s scoring numbers

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 24: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Donovan Mitchell #45 during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on March 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell is taking four fewer shots per game this season compared to last year. Should the Cleveland Cavaliers be concerned?“The shot attempt stuff doesn’t bother me in the least,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said when asked that very question.Even though Mitchell is taking fewer shots, he’s taking a similar percentage of looks at the rim. A quarter of Mitchell’s attempts have been in the restricted area this season; that’s slightly better than last season when he was taking 24% of his shots at the rim. If you wanted to point at something more negative, you could say that he’s shooting a lower percentage on shots at the rim and below the free-throw line. Additionally, his free-throw rate is also down slightly, and he’s gone from driving 18.5 times per game to just 15.6. That said, Mitchell has been slightly more efficient as he’s averaging 1.24 points per shot attempt (88th percentile) and has an effective field-goal percentage of 57.4% (85th percentile). Support us and Let ‘Em Know with Homage!Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Spida shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.Instead of worrying about Mitchell’s shots, Atkinson is looking at something different. “That’s my theme to him: Can you make others better?” Atkinson said. “That’s important for this group. You have to continue to make others better, make the right play. So I judge it more…I don’t look at field goal attempts.”The blueprint for what Atkinson wants to see from Mitchell is last season’s Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons. In that game, Mitchell came out with an effort to set up teammates, which led to him finishing with eight assists and no turnovers.We’ve seen glimpses of this during the season. The first game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the win over the Washington Wizards are both examples of that. He made a concerted effort to get others involved, and the Cavs were better off for it.On the flip side, there’s a balance to this. Mitchell’s efforts to set up others need to come from being aggressive and getting to his spots on the floor. And from those spots, he needs to be getting others involved. That isn’t something he is necessarily doing well early on. Mitchell sometimes feels a little too passive from an energy standpoint, which is where some of the criticism is coming from.Ultimately, Mitchell is a scorer. But scoring will become easier for him when he’s a threat to find teammates on his drives to the paint.The Cavs are a work in progress at this point of the season, and so is their best player. The team is asking him to emphasize different skills than they have in previous years. And if he’s able to do so consistently, they’ll be better off for it in the long term. “I know he can get 40 every night,” Atkinson said. “I know he can shoot 25 times a game. He needs to empower others around him, and I think he does a hell of a job at it.”