Why is Donovan Mitchell called ‘Spida’? Explaining the Cavs star’s nickname origin

Donovan Mitchell is one of the best playoff scorers in NBA history.

Really, he's so many wonderful things in an NBA career that has spanned the Utah Jazz to now the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But one thing that is a Mitchell quirk that might leave some fans confused is his nickname: Spida.

Here's where that comes from.

MORE: Donovan Mitchell shows why he's one of best playoff scorers in NBA history

Why is Donovan Mitchell called 'Spida'?

Donovan Mitchell's Spida nickname dates back to his Louisville days in college, and it's based on his appearance and play style.

A college teammate's father was the first to use the term. Here's the story Mitchell has told in the past:

“I had long arms and I was quick to getting a lot of steals. I didn’t think it would correlate to where I am now. He never called me by my first name and to this day, he still doesn’t. He’ll text me, ‘Spida, how ya doing?’ Spiderman was one of my favorites growing up and it just stuck with me. That’s where it all came from.”

Mitchell's nickname is so synonymous that NBA announcers will use it to refer to him in the middle of games. If you're not on top of it, it can be a bit confusing.

But now you know the story.

Sometimes, nicknames have a way of sticking longer than anyone would've expected.

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Donovan Mitchell playoff stats

Donovan Mitchell is legitimately a legendary postseason scorer.

In his career, he has put up 28.1 points per game in the playoffs, including 30 to open the 2025 postseason in Game 1 against the Heat.

MORE: Are Donovan Mitchell and Davion Mitchell related?

Only six guys have ever averaged a higher point total in the playoffs than Mitchell. It's a list of inner-circle Hall of Famers and guys destined to be there one day: Michael Jordan, Luka Doncic, Allen Iverson, Kevin Durant, Jerry West, LeBron James.

So yeah, Spida is special.

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