Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, a five-time All-Star who just signed a three-year, $150.3 million contract extension, will train with the team at IMG Academy in October.
Basketball fans, rejoice: we can now officially add the NBA to the list of professional sports organizations whose players train in our area.
THE The Cleveland Cavaliers announced today that the team will hold its 2024 training camp in IMG Academy in Bradenton from October 1-6. The six-day camp will mark the official start of the Cavaliers’ preparation for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Founded in 1970 by Nick Mileti, died last week at the age of 93The Cavs won the NBA championship in 2016 and the Eastern Conference crown in 2007, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. (This year, they reached the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs before being eliminated by the eventual champion Boston Celtics.) The starting lineup consists of point guard Darius Garland, guard Donovan Mitchell, center Jarrett Allan, forward Max Strus and power forward Evan Mobley.
Cavs chairman Dan Gilbert is the founder and chairman of Rocket Mortgage and the founder and chairman of Rock Ventures LLC, the umbrella entity for his portfolio of commercial and real estate investments.
Cavs in action
“The City of Sarasota and IMG Academy in Bradenton are the perfect setting for our training camp this year,” Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in a press release announcing the news. “This is a unique opportunity for us to utilize a world-class facility away from our usual surroundings, providing an excellent setting to build team cohesion and culture. We extend our gratitude to IMG Academy and the surrounding area for their warm hospitality in hosting our organization. Their state-of-the-art facilities and supportive communities will be instrumental in helping us prepare for the upcoming season.”
Cleveland will become the first NBA team to hold its training camp at IMG, which features multiple basketball courts and extensive strength and conditioning facilities. It will also be the Cavaliers’ first remote training camp since preparing for the 2004-05 season at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.
“When we learned that the Cleveland Cavaliers had selected IMG Academy as their training facility, it was no surprise as it reinforces the value IMG brings to our community,” Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said in a statement. “The Cavs players, coaches and staff, as well as their fans, can call Bradenton a second home as they begin a new season.”
“We look forward to welcoming the Cavaliers,” added Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert. “We are planning exciting events for the players to interact with the Sarasota community, especially our youth and aspiring athletes. We want the Cavs to experience all that Sarasota has to offer, from our incredible and vibrant downtown to the cultural arts, beaches and breathtaking sunsets. It’s sure to be a fun and memorable week when the Cavs come to Sarasota.”
