Donovan Mitchell put on a masterclass in Game 3, dropping 35 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 116-109 comeback win over the Detroit Pistons in the 2026 NBA playoffs. The victory cut Detroit's series lead to 2-1 in this thrilling second-round matchup. But here's the twist that adds a layer of intrigue to every bucket Mitchell scores: he almost suited up for the Pistons.

Rewind nine years to the 2017 NBA Draft. A young Mitchell, fresh off his sophomore season at Louisville, was convinced his future was in Detroit. He had just aced a pre-draft workout in Auburn Hills and nailed a film session with Pistons president and head coach Stan Van Gundy. "I thought I aced the test. This is it. I thought I'd nailed it," Mitchell recalled in a 2018 interview. He watched the clock tick down to the 12th pick, fully expecting to hear his name called.

Instead, the Pistons selected Luke Kennard, a sharpshooting guard from Duke. It was a decision that would haunt Detroit fans for years, especially as Mitchell blossomed into a superstar. At the time, Mitchell was skyrocketing up draft boards thanks to eye-popping athletic testing. At just 6-foot-3, he boasted a 6-foot-10 wingspan and a chiseled 210-pound frame with only 5.9% body fat. He posted the highest standing vertical leap at 36.5 inches and a 40½-inch max vertical, while his 3.01-second three-quarter court sprint was one of the fastest in combine history.

Now, every time Mitchell torches the Pistons—like he did in Game 3—it's a painful reminder of what could have been. For Pistons star Cade Cunningham and his squad, this missed opportunity looms large as they try to hold off a Cavaliers team fueled by a player who thought he'd be wearing the opposite jersey.