MIAMI – As the Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, there were many contributions from the team, but one that stood out was newcomer Davion Mitchell, who came over in the Jimmy Butler trade.
While Mitchell has been described as a jack of all trades type of player for the Heat, he had his best game in the new uniform, which garnered the attention of head coach Erik Spoelstra.
Mitchell is a defensive stalwart, but his offensive play was on display as he finished with 20 points, shooting 7-of-8 from the field, making all five of his three-point attempts, tying a career-high. He also had six assists, showing his playmaking ability as that's an important aspect for Miami according to what Spoelstra told ClutchPoints.
“He just wants to fit in;he wants to…help in whatever the way that he can,” Spoelstra said. “And…I think as he spends more time with us, he'll find opportunities to be more aggressive…He's certainly doing that defensively.
“His playmaking and his ability just to get the ball where we want it to go is an important aspect of playing that position for us. But also…those random plays where he's able to drive and make some plays…I think that's something we can build on for sure.”
Asked Erik Spoelstra about Davion Mitchell and what he’s seen from him in terms of fitting with the team.
“He wants to fit in, wants to help in whatever way he can…His playmaking and his ability to just get the ball where we want it to go is an important aspect…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/pnH6V754wA
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) February 28, 2025
Davion Mitchell says the Heat have never ‘had a defender like me ever'

As the Heat work through their current flaws, Mitchell looks to be one of the solutions as he's been in the starting lineup since the very first game he debuted for the team on Feb. 10 in the loss to the Boston Celtics. Though Miami went through a rough stretch after the trade for Butler, Wednesday's win could be what the doctor ordered in turning around the season as it was bleak before.
Article Continues BelowWhile it was an offensive dogfight in the first half against the Hawks on Wednesday, the Heat took control in the second once they picked up their defensive pressure, and Mitchell was a key factor.
When speaking after the game to the media, Mitchell said that the team is still building chemistry with one another while stating that he doesn't believe Miami has “had a defender like me ever,” going into why that is.
“We got to kind of get used to each other,” Mitchell said. “I mean, for me, I don't think they had a defender like me ever. I kind of get out around a lot of screens. Sometimes I mess up the coverages when I'm supposed to switch, trying to get over the screen.
“So this is the connection that we got, the chemistry we got to have, especially defensively. It takes time, and I think we did a really good job in that in the second half.”
Davion Mitchell speaks on the ongoing chemistry with the team defensively.
“We kinda have to get used to each other. For me, I don’t think they’ve had a defender like me ever…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/LtZr1wf6oP
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) February 27, 2025
At any rate, Mitchell looks to solidify his spot with the team as an X-factor, which hopefully lead to wins as the team is 27-30, which puts them eighth in the Eastern Conference before the Heat take on the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.