Donovan Mitchell could be a star in the making
The Utah Jazz needed a win, and it took all but one game for Donovan Mitchell to make Jazz fans feel like they had hit the jackpot in the 2017 draft.
Mitchell showed everyone why he shot up draft boards during workouts, and more than validated Utah’s decision to trade the number 24 pick and Trey Lyles in order to select him at number 13.
Offensively, Mitchell showed an ability to score in a variety of ways. His shot selection was a bit suspect, but he showed a knack for being able to make difficult shots. He was able to knock down spot-up threes, jumpers off the dribble, and used his athleticism and strength to get to the basket.
One of the factors that could make him into a star though, is his fearlessness. He wants the ball, and he showed a desire to take on the best players. Just look at what he did to Jayson Tatum after a minor scuffle between the two.
DONOVAN MITCHELL PUTTING TATUM DOWN pic.twitter.com/mrQyU4i6Hn
— Michael Gallagher (@MikeSGallagher) July 7, 2017
The aspect that stands out the most with Mitchell though, is his desire to play hard on the defensive end. He is an absolute pest, and will fit in with the Jazz perfectly. During the Utah Jazz Summer League, he averaged 3.3 steals per game. Then he actually upped that average to a ridiculous 6 steals per game in Vegas.
The video above shows him dropping Tatum on a step-back, but it doesn’t show him locking Tatum down throughout the second half of that game. It got to the point that when Tatum got the ball and Mitchell was on him, you almost wanted him to try and score on Mitchell.
In his final game in Vegas, he may have dropped 37 points, but perhaps the more impressive stat, was that he finished with 8 steals. 8 steals!!!
The Jazz may have gotten the steal of the draft in Donovan Mitchell. He has all the skills to be a star in this league, but more importantly, he has the attitude and drive to get there. He plays with a passion and enthusiasm that you rarely see anymore.
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Now Jazz fans can only hope that in a year or two he has us saying, “Gordon Hayward who?”