Perkins Blasts Cavaliers, Mitchell After Playoff Exit

The Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated from the playoffs in the second round by the Indiana Pacers, prompting sharp criticism from ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins. Perkins blamed star Donovan Mitchell for the team's failures and the firing of coach J.B. Bickerstaff, and questioned Mitchell's leadership, particularly for drawing attention to his ankle injury. He also criticized other Cavaliers players for missing games due to injuries, contrasting their toughness with that of NBA stars Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards who played through pain. Despite Mitchell's strong individual stats and playoff consistency, Perkins remains skeptical about his ability to lead a team on a deep postseason run. Mitchell acknowledged the external doubts and vowed that the Cavaliers would have something to prove next season. The criticism comes as Perkins faces his own scrutiny for his outspoken commentary, notably after a recent social media dispute with ex-teammate Nate Robinson about his claims regarding Nikola Jokic.