Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is one of the NBA’s most complete offensive players. His shiftiness on the interior allows him to finish over the league’s most intimidating rim protectors. He also possesses a unique ability to alter his shot mid-air. His three-point accuracy may not be consistent, but his shot creation is among the league’s elite.
He’s one of the best scorers in Utah Jazz history. His name may already belong alongside Adrian Dantley’s. Only Karl Malone stands distinctly above Mitchell in franchise history when it comes to putting points on the board.
It seems as if the writers at Bleacher Report agree.
Bleacher Report predicts scoring title for Utah Jazz star
In an article called Bold Predictions for the NBA Season’s Second Half, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report predicted that Donovan Mitchell will finish the season with the league’s scoring crown. Jazz fans would certainly like to see that prediction come to fruition.
It would be quite the feather in Mitchell’s cap too. The last Jazzman to claim the league’s scoring crown was Dantley, all the way back in 1983-84.
It seems almost unfathomable that Karl Malone, the league’s all-time second leading scorer, never secured that pole position. That is, until you remember that his prime years coincided with a certain bald-headed Chicago Bulls guard. Malone’s longevity was almost unprecedented, and played a large role in his lofty position in the league’s all-time scoring list.
He simply was never in a position where another in-prime superstar didn’t tally more points. Donovan Mitchell may be.
None of which is to say it will be even remotely easy.
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell faces tremendous challenge
As Hughes outlines in his article, Mitchell would have to average nearly 34 points per game and suit up for all 39 of the Jazz’s remaining games. That is, to say the least, a tall order.
There’s a reason this prediction is being designated as bold. Nonetheless, such a feat is in the realm of possibility. As Hughes also outlines, Mitchell is shooting a mere 34.6% from deep this season. That’s an acceptable figure, but it’s not an impressive one.
Mitchell can do better. If that percentage normalizes throughout the season, expect an uptick in his general scoring output. Potentially, a large enough uptick to help Mitchell claim the NBA’s scoring title.
Not that Mitchell is likely to be concerned. Every indication suggests that he’s more preoccupied with the success of the Utah Jazz. If he happens to score the most points per game in the NBA in the process of helping them win, it will be a bonus.