Donovan Mitchell just torched the Detroit Pistons for 35 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 116-109 comeback win in Game 3 of their 2026 NBA playoff series. That puts the Pistons up 2-1, but the real twist? Mitchell once thought he'd be wearing a Pistons jersey.

Rewind nine years. Mitchell was a rising sophomore from Louisville, climbing draft boards fast. He'd aced his pre-draft workout in Auburn Hills, impressed in a film session with then-Pistons president and head coach Stan Van Gundy, and felt certain Detroit would call his name with the 12th pick. "I watch a lot of film," Mitchell recalled. "I remember exact plays, where I was supposed to be. I thought I'd nailed it."

Instead, the Pistons went with Luke Kennard, a sweet-shooting guard from Duke. Mitchell slid to the Utah Jazz at No. 13, and the rest is history—All-Star nods, playoff heroics, and now a trade to Cleveland that's made him a postseason nightmare for his would-be hometown team.

It's a classic "what if" for Pistons fans. At the 2017 combine, Mitchell measured 6-foot-3 with a 6-10 wingspan, a sculpted 210 pounds, and just 5.9% body fat. He posted the highest standing vertical leap (36.5 inches) and the fastest three-quarter court sprint time (3.01 seconds)—one of the quickest in combine history. His max vertical hit 40.5 inches. Pure athleticism, pure potential.

Now, as Mitchell torches Detroit in the playoffs, it's hard not to wonder: In another universe, he's the star of the Pistons, not the guy breaking their hearts.