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Utah Jazz rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell nabs several headlines this week

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz controls the ball during a game against the Golden State Warriors at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 30, 2018 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 - JANUARY 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz controls the ball during a game against the Golden State Warriors at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 30, 2018 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) /
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From Rookie of the Month to All-Star Skills Challenge participant, the Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell continues to turn heads and make headlines.

I’ve said it plenty of times before, but I’ll say it again, no matter what comes of the remainder of the 2017-18 season for the Utah Jazz, it will forever be remembered as the year that the team acquired Donovan Mitchell and that he burst onto the scene. The electrifying rookie has been nothing short of sensational this year as he leads all rookies, and all his Utah Jazz teammates, in scoring, and has solidified himself as a bona fide Rookie of the Year candidate.

But it doesn’t end there as the Incredible Spida-Man also managed to nab a handful of impressive headlines this week, further solidifying his incredible season and thrusting him more and more into the lime-light. Here’s more of the recognition that Mitchell has garnered of late.

Consecutive Rookie of the Month Award

When Donovan Mitchell was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December, many wondered if his unbelievable production was sustainable or merely a brief surge. However, he managed to prove all the doubters wrong as he followed up December with an equally impressive January which saw him earn a second consecutive Western Conference Rookie of the Month Award.

During the month of January, Donovan averaged 22.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals. He also logged eight games of 20-plus points and two of 30-plus points. If he’s able to maintain these numbers for the final three months of the regular season, he may very well be able to overtake his Eastern Conference January Rookie of the Month counterpart Ben Simmons for the Rookie of the Year title.

It won’t be an easy task by any means, but if Mitchell has shown us one thing this year, it’s that he’s never one to back down in the slightest from a challenge.

ESPN highlight reel

For the Utah Jazz, it isn’t every day that they find themselves being touted by the national media. The largely unheralded small market team is known more for flying under the radar than being thrust into the spotlight. However, this season has seen a brief change in that department due to how sensational Donovan Mitchell has been, and recently ESPN was the latest to #TakeNote in a big way.

On Wednesday, ESPN released an amazing video showcasing some of the greatest moments from Mitchell’s rookie season thus far. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s an absolute must-watch that can’t be missed. Check it out via the link in the tweet below:

Seeing any Jazz player, let alone a rookie, get this much hype and praise is unfamiliar, but also awesome beyond belief.

Skills Challenge selection made official

It had already been reported that Donovan Mitchell would be competing in this season’s All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge, but that report was made official today as the full field was announced. The defending Skills Challenge champion Kristaps Porzingis will return to protect his title and he and Mitchell will be joined by big men Al Horford and Joel Embiid as well as guards Spencer Dinwiddie, Lou Williams, Jamal Murray and forward Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen and Mitchell will be the lone rookies to participate in the event.

While it will be awesome to see Mitchell participate in what is personally my favorite event of the weekend (I know, I’m in the vast minority here), many Jazz fans remain sour that he was left out of the event that would have potentially been the most thrilling to see him in – the Slam Dunk Contest.

It turns out that the rumored participants from an earlier report are indeed the four that will be participating – Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Larry Nance Jr. and Dennis Smith Jr. While I’m excited to see three of those four particpate for reasons I explained previously, I still feel like we’ve seen enough of Aaron Gordon after he’s fallen short the past two seasons, and would have liked to see Mitchell take that spot to dunk alongside fellow rookie Dennis Smith.

Nevertheless, such was not in the cards. Hopefully Mitchell can find a way to throw down a statement dunk during the Skills Challenge to remind the NBA just how mistaken they were for not including him in the field. Still, between Rising Stars and the Skills Challenge, Mitchell is going to get some great publicity in Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend which should be a joy for Jazz fans to behold.

Next: It’s official, Nikola Mirotic is off the table for the Utah Jazz

Mitchell continues to be one of the most impressive rookies to ever suit up for the Utah Jazz and this latest string of exciting headlines is probably little more than the tip of the iceberg. The brilliant young athlete has captured the imagination of Jazz fans and shown that bright things are in store for both him and his team.

I, for one, can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next.

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