Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz
Is anyone really surprised that a self-proclaimed Jazz homer and writer for The J-Notes, a Utah Jazz-based website, has Donovan Mitchell as the top young guard in the league today? I didn’t think so. I can assure you that it is not without reason, though.
That said, the debate between Jazz fans and Suns fans is real. Throughout his entire rookie season and throughout this summer, there is consistently a conversation going on over who is the better player.
My argument is simple: Mitchell has an offensive upside that is right on par with Devin Booker, but his defense is already light years ahead. He is also already having a more positive impact on his team than Booker, and he is having that positive impact on one of the best teams in the NBA…and he did that as a rookie.
— ͏wade (@PlayoffDWade) August 31, 2018
Booker averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds during the regular season, for a team that only won 16 games.
Mitchell wasn’t far behind, averaging 20.5 points, 3.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds, for a playoff team that won 46 games. Then during the playoffs, he upped those averages to 24.4 points, 4.2 assists, and 5.9 rebounds.
Booker is a terrific offensive player, but at the very least, Mitchell is not that far behind. When factoring in the defense though, Mitchell is looking back and seeing a dot in Devin Booker. The best guard in the NBA under 25 is the one who helped lead his team to the playoffs, and dominated in a first- round matchup verses the Oklahoma City Thunder
Jazz fans should be over the moon about Donovan Mitchell, who is only getting better. Take Note.