Top 5 NBA draft picks in Utah Jazz history
By John Canady
4. Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell is one of the most recent top draft selections in Jazz history. Utah selected Mitchell with the 13th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, and the explosive guard didn’t disappoint.
It took seemingly no time for the former Louisville standout to rise into stardom in his rookie season in the league, where he averaged 20.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists over 79 games. Mitchell immediately helped the Jazz rise to contention under head coach Quin Snyder, and the team was competitive year in and year out, with #45 leading the squad.
Ultimately, the Jazz elected to rebuild after falling short in the postseason multiple times. Mitchell left the Jazz this past offseason in a sign-and-trade that contributed to Utah’s flurry of picks that Danny Ainge helped stack up.
In 345 games for the Jazz, Mitchell averaged 23.9 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game. While many Jazz fans are now looking to the future, it’s hard to believe that the fans of Utah may not wonder what could have been if the team hadn’t given up on the 26-year-old star. Nonetheless, Mitchell will still be known as one of the top picks in Jazz history.