In the aftermath of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ disappointing elimination from the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, a new wave of speculation has erupted—this time off the court. Fans quickly noticed that Donovan Mitchell had unfollowed teammate Darius Garland on Instagram, raising questions about a possible rift between the two star guards.
The social media move ignited rumors of tension, especially after an insider report claimed Mitchell would prefer the Cavaliers retain backup guard Ty Jerome over Garland for the 2025–26 season. While the Cavaliers’ season ended with high expectations unmet, the online drama only intensified public scrutiny.
Mitchell has now broken his silence regarding the situation, addressing the Instagram unfollow and ongoing rumors head-on.
“There’s always going to be noise when a season ends the way ours did,” Mitchell said. “I’ve got respect for Darius. People are reading into things that don’t tell the whole story. We’ve both worked hard to build something in Cleveland, and nothing changes that with a social media follow button.”
Despite the social media activity, Mitchell and Garland have consistently emphasized mutual respect and communication throughout their time as Cleveland’s backcourt leaders. Following last year’s playoff loss, Garland revealed that he and Mitchell had a direct, honest conversation to better align their efforts and goals.
“We really got locked in, knowing what we want to accomplish,” Garland said earlier this season. “It wasn’t about egos. It was about winning.”
Mitchell has also been public in his support for Garland, particularly when the younger guard faced criticism during stretches of poor play. In late 2024, Mitchell defended Garland, telling reporters:
“I just want everybody who was on that side to stay on that side when it comes to him. I don’t want there to be a switch-up. I know who a lot of y’all are.”
Both guards turned in strong 2024–25 campaigns—Garland averaged 21.2 points and 6.5 assists on 49.9% shooting, while Mitchell averaged 23.1 points and 5.0 assists per game. However, with a pivotal offseason ahead and trade rumors swirling, speculation will likely persist around the future of Cleveland’s star duo.