Utah Jazz: TNT’s Kenny Smith calls Mitchell “Should-have-been All-Star”

TNT’s Kenny Smith had some quick but high praise for Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell when introducing him before the Dunk Contest.

As I touched on Saturday morning in some detail, this year’s NBA All-Star festivities were less than riveting for Utah Jazz fans. A lackluster All-Star Saturday night was further evidence of that. While the Skills Challenge and the 3-Point Contest were alright, the Dunk Contest, aside from a couple nice ones from eventual champ Hamidou Diallo, was pretty meh.

Last year’s battle between Donovan Mitchell and Larry Nance Jr. was much more entertaining, and I believe could have been extended even longer into a duel between the two had Nance received more love for his second to last dunk, prior to his sweet tap-off-the-backboard jam which earned him a 50. But enough dwelling on the past for now.

The best part of the Dunk Contest for Jazz fans was Donovan Mitchell’s participation as one of the announcers of the event alongside the TNT crew. And while he provided some good analysis throughout the evening, perhaps what stood out the most was the way he was introduced by the reputed Kenny Smith.

Upon first highlighting Mitchell’s participation on the broadcast crew, The Jet introed Donovan as the Utah Jazz’s “Should-have-been All-Star”.

In some ways, this came as little surprise considering that Mitchell was on Kenny’s list of All-Star selections when the TNT crew was making their predictions prior to the rosters being released. But it was still a cool reminder to see such a prominent figure giving Mitchell that nod yet again.

At 22.4 points and four assists per contest while serving as the offensive leader for a Utah Jazz team that currently sits at sixth in the Western Conference, there’s certainly an argument to be had that Mitchell was deserving of the nod. And that’s clearly the argument that Smith is leaning on.

However, I must say, as much as I love Donovan, I believe it was accurate for him to be just short of All-Star status this season. His efficiency still is beneath where the Jazz need him to be in order for him to fall into the All-Star ranks, but he certainly is close. If he’s able to replicate his prolific month of January more consistently in future seasons, he’ll be an All-Star shoo-in for years to come.

The real Utah Jazz “Should-have-been All-Star” is without a doubt Rudy Gobert. Utah’s calling card is defense and The Stifle Tower is the anchor on that end of the floor. Not only that, but his underrated offense that is both highly efficient and creates space and opportunity for his teammates to operate makes him one of the most overall impactful players in the NBA.

Kenny Smith made it clear that he thinks it was a snub that Mitchell was left off the roster. Most of the rest of the basketball world acknowledges that leaving Rudy off was even more egregious.

Luckily, both players are fierce competitors, so hopefully they’ll use the snub as fuel to their fire to not only close the season well and prove the doubters wrong, but also to continue to ascend in order to qualify for the All-Star Game next season. Not only do they have doubters to inspire them, but Mitchell can lean on the praise of guys like Kenny while Gobert can take solace in knowing that most NBA media members including the likes of Shaq and EJ, Kenny’s TNT partners in crime, believed him worthy of being in the All-Star Game as well.

I’m expecting both to come out refreshed from the All-Star Game, as well as angry with a lot to prove as they seek to elevate their team to new heights down the stretch into the 2019 NBA Playoffs. And I believe a double All-Star bid for the Utah Jazz featuring both Mitchell and Gobert next season is completely within reason.