Donovan Mitchell has never backed down from a challenge, but his latest confession has the basketball world doing a double-take. Sitting down with Baron Davis on The Draymond Green Show in late August, the Cavaliers’ superstar dropped a bombshell that reads more like myth than reality: the only time he ever drank before an NBA game, he went out and dropped a cool 71 points. That’s not a typo - 71. On a night when the basketball gods were clearly listening, Mitchell broke the seal on a pre-game ritual he’d never touched before, and the result was one of the most explosive scoring outbursts in modern NBA history. Let’s break down exactly what happened, what it means for the upcoming season, and why this story is about to follow him everywhere he goes.
The Confession: Breaking Down the “Little Tequila”
Setting the Scene in Cleveland
Mitchell didn’t hold back when explaining the circumstances to Davis. He clarified that this wasn’t some reckless game-day decision - it was a calculated, relaxed choice made the night before the Cavaliers faced the Chicago Bulls on January 2, 2023. "I had a little tequila the night before," Mitchell admitted, careful to distinguish that he wasn't sipping in the locker room before tip-off. Instead, it was a night-before wind-down that accidentally unlocked a scoring frenzy. Timing is everything here: league policy restricts game-day consumption, but what a player does 12 hours prior is fair game. Mitchell essentially found a loophole in his own routine, and the basketball universe has been buzzing about it ever since.
📊 71 points on 71% true shooting - That’s the most efficient high-volume scoring night in Cavaliers franchise history, and it happened with zero game-day liquid courage in his system.
The 71-Point Masterpiece
For those who need a refresher, Mitchell’s performance that night in Cleveland was pure chaos. He torched the Bulls for 71 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds, leading the Cavaliers to a dramatic 145-134 overtime victory. He joined an elite club that only features Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, David Thompson, and Devin Booker (in the modern era) with such a gaudy scoring total. The wildest part? Mitchell said he didn’t feel any different physically - no extra bounce, no unusual focus. It was just one of those nights where every shot felt like it was destined to fall. The tequila might have been a placebo, or perhaps it was the key to him loosening up just enough to let his natural instincts take over.
| Player | Team | Opponent | Date | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers | Chicago Bulls | Jan 2, 2023 | 71 |
| Damian Lillard | Portland Trail Blazers | Houston Rockets | Feb 26, 2023 | 71 |
| Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | Boston Celtics | Mar 24, 2017 | 70 |
| Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | Toronto Raptors | Jan 22, 2006 | 81 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors | New York Knicks | Mar 2, 1962 | 100 |
Why This Admission Matters Now
There’s no new game footage or fresh stats to analyze - the NBA is deep in its offseason with the 2025-26 campaign set to tip off on October 20. So why is this story picking up steam in September 2026? Simple: Mitchell is about to enter a critical contract year, and he’s the centerpiece of a Cavaliers team aiming for a title. He’s also expected to face a media frenzy at Cleveland’s Media Day on September 30, and you can bet reporters will have follow-up questions. Plus, the NBA has stayed conspicuously quiet - no fines, no policy reviews, no league comments. That silence tells you everything: Mitchell didn’t break any rules, and there’s no controversy beyond the sheer absurdity of the anecdote. As The Athletic’s takedown of the quote pointed out, this is vintage Spida - mixing mischief with magnificence in a way that keeps the league buzzing during dog days.
