Donovan Mitchell hadn’t even started his sophomore year at Louisville
The last time the Jazz lost a preseason game, Donovan Mitchell was getting ready to begin his sophomore season at Louisville. The scoring sensation averaged just seven points per game during his freshman year, which is another reason why it’s so impressive that Donovan averaged over 20 per game as a rookie in the NBA.
It was during his sophomore year at Louisville that Mitchell began showing flashes. I saw a lot of Dwyane Wade in his game. Not a great shooter, and under-sized at the two, but both are tenacious finishers at the rim. Mitchell averaged about 16 points per game that year – more than doubling his average as a freshman. I knew he was going to be special, but didn’t expect him to declare for the 2018 NBA Draft. Well, thankfully he did.
Hopefully I don’t jinx the Jazz and they can keep their meaningless streak going for even longer, just for the heck of it. The Jazz have one final preseason game remaining, which will be in Sacramento on Thursday, taking on the Sacramento Kings.
Oddly enough, the Jazz will play the Kings in Sacramento on opening night of the regular season as well. Thus far in the preseason, they’ve beaten the Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers and a couple non-NBA teams.