Rookie Donovan Mitchell will reportedly become the next in a line of Utah Jazz players to participate in the All-Star Skills Challenge.
Despite the team’s recent road success, Utah Jazz fans have been somewhat surly of late. The source of their angst — next month’s Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend. Or, more specifically, rookie Donovan Mitchell’s exclusion from the event.
An aggressive All-Star campaign notwithstanding, a spot in the big game was always a long-shot for Mitchell. However, a Dunk Contest invite seemed like, well… a slam dunk. After all, Mitchell’s high-flying antics have landed him on SportsCenter highlights time and time again. They’ve also earned praise from some of basketball’s best dunkers.
Much to the chagrin of Jazz fans, the league opted instead to invite Dallas Mavericks rookie Dennis Smith Jr. to the contest. Nevertheless, it appears as though Mitchell is in-line for something of a consolation prize.
Although no official announcement has been made, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Mitchell has been invited to participate in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge during All-Star Saturday Night —
Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell will participate in the Skills Challenge on All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 27, 2018
Of course, Mitchell wouldn’t be the first Jazzman to participate in the Skills Challenge. In fact, the team has a track record of success in the event.
Jazz point-man Deron Williams won the Skills Challenge in 2008, narrowly edging out Chris Paul in the final round. D-Will would make another appearance in the Skills Challenge final in 2010, when he was beat out by Steve Nash.
He also participated in 2012 as a member of the New Jersey Nets.
In 2014, the event temporarily switched to a team format. That year, then-Jazz rookie Trey Burke teamed with Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard to edge out fellow first-years Michael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo.
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Last season, Gordon Hayward made an appearance in the final round, but fell short against the New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis.
It may not be the Slam Dunk Contest, but the Skills Challenge should provide a nice stage for Mitchell’s talents. Less than 50 games into his NBA career, the Jazz rook has already shown a diverse skill set.
To date, he’s scored 25 or more points 14 times, dished out five-plus assists 13 times, grabbed five or more rebounds (from the backcourt) on 12 occasions and had 19 multi-steal games.
In a contest that requires the execution of multiple basketball skills, that level of all-around mojo should bode well for the first-year phenom. Mitchell’s invite here may be a consolation prize, but look for the Jazzman to make the most of it.
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Mitchell will also participate in the Rising Stars Challenge.