Cleveland Cavaliers: 15 best forwards of all-time
. SF. (1978-81). Mike Mitchell. 5. player. 156
Small forward Mike Mitchell didn’t play his whole career with the Cavaliers, but it’s where he got his start before becoming a member of the San Antonio Spurs. Mitchell was a pure and efficient scorer during his career, breaking out for 22.2 points per game in just his second season in the league.
In his third year, Mitchell earned his first and only nod to the 1981 NBA All-Star Game, while averaging a career-high 24.5 points per game. Mitchell led the NBA in field goals attempted (1,791) during the 1980-81 season. He scored with volume that year, putting up a career-high 21.8 field goal attempts per game as well.
In the year prior, he poured in a career-high 46 points on 20-of-36 (55.6 percent) shooting from the floor, along with 14 rebounds against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 8, 1980. He also posted 40 points against the Detroit Pistons and recorded 13 games with 30 points or more in the same season.
Mitchell was a scoring machine although he didn’t play in any postseason games during his tenure with the Cavaliers. He did go on to make six postseason appearances with the Spurs. Mitchell was traded to the Spurs during the 1981-82 season in hopes of turning things around for Cleveland.
In four seasons with the Cavaliers, he produced 19.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest, while shooting 49.5 percent from the floor through 271 appearances. Though his time with the Cavaliers was cut short, his impact could have been felt more if Cleveland was a playoff contender.