Donovan Mitchell raves about ‘ultimate team guy’ Jarrett Allen: ‘He is always going to be there for us’

While the Cleveland Cavaliers had three players named All-Stars this season, there was a push for them to have four, with big man Jarrett Allen being the lone member of the team’s “core four” who didn’t make the cut.

Allen is having another strong season for the Cavs as they battle to secure the NBA’s top record. He might not get as much shine as some of Cleveland’s other stars do, but he’s the “ultimate team guy,” according to teammate Donovan Mitchell.

“He is Mr. Consistent,” Mitchell said of Allen. “He is always going to be there for us. He’s the ultimate team guy. No matter what happens, he finishes or doesn’t finish, he is always going to be there, always going to have a smile on his face, always ready. Gotta give him a lot of credit. Not many bigs who are All-Stars are able to be that selfless. It’s a blessing to play with him. We all know how rare that is.”

Allen’s team-first mentality has been on full display lately amid a changing role. He hasn’t always been on the floor to close games yet has remained focused on simply doing his job.

Allen, an All-Star earlier in his career, is once again averaging a double-double this season, something that has become a common trend for him in the NBA. This time, he’s averaging 13.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game while shooting an incredibly efficient 70.1 percent from the field. Of course, he’s doing all that while remaining a highly impactful defender.

To sweeten the deal, the 26-year-old hasn’t missed a game all season. The Cavs are 53-10 through 63 games, and Allen has been on the floor for every single matchup.

Now, the next goal is for Allen and the team to step up when the postseason comes around. While the Cavs have had a truly special season so far, they aren’t going to be satisfied if they can’t finish the job in the playoffs. Cleveland has won just one playoff series since franchise legend LeBron James left in the 2018 offseason.

With Allen helping the Cavs on and off the floor, he’s going to be a key ingredient the rest of the way. With any luck, the rest of the group will also do whatever it takes to be the last team standing. Cleveland has 19 regular-season games remaining, with its next one scheduled for Sunday night on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks.