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Utah Jazz: Five things to be thankful about this Thanksgiving

Jared Woodcox|
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers hugs Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz after the game at the Wells Fargo Center on November 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Jazz 107-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers hugs Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz after the game at the Wells Fargo Center on November 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Jazz 107-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 13: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court during the second half of their 109-98 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 13, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 13: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court during the second half of their 109-98 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 13, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)

Donovan Mitchell

Let’s cut right to the chase, shall we? Without a doubt the biggest bright spot for the Utah Jazz this season has been rookie Donovan Mitchell, who Utah traded up to nab at number 13 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. He’s obviously been far from perfect as we expected out of a first-year player, but there’s also an overwhelming consensus that he’s been one of the top-5 best rookies in the league up to this point.

Prior to the season’s start, we here at TheJNotes.com saw it as a bold prediction that Donovan Mitchell would start by the end of the year. Instead, he got his first nod in Game 1 of his NBA career due to gastric issues from Rodney Hood and not many games later, Mitchell moved into the starting lineup where he remains to this day. He’s the team’s second leading scorer at 14.9 points per game and despite a poor shooting start, his field goal percentage is quickly approaching 40 percent and his three-point percentage is just under 33 percent.

He’s also already logged seven games scoring 19 points or more and has a career-high of 28 points which came in a clutch performance against the Portland Trail Blazers. A 28-point outing within his first 18 games as an NBA player is undoubtedly impressive and speaks volumes to Mitchell’s potential moving forward.

Not only that, but Mitchell has been one of only a few Jazz players that I can comfortably say has played his heart out night in and night out. The kid is always hustling, going for loose balls, making defensive plays and doing everything possible to spark his offensively-challenged squad on offense. Sure, he still has plenty to learn, but he seems to be improving rapidly and has the looks of a potential star.

Donovan Mitchell won’t be able to lead the Jazz to the promised land this season by any means, but he’s still one of the team’s main contributors and his future is magnificently bright. That alone is reason for Jazz fans to rejoice and be grateful this holiday season.

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