The name Donovan Mitchell is a household name in the world of basketball. He has been a member of the Utah Jazz since his rookie year and he's been a part of two NBA All-Star games. Donovan Mitchell was named to the 2020 and 2021 rosters and is currently ranked third in franchise history for most made three-pointers. Although he hasn't won a championship yet, he has been a key figure in several postseason victories. In fact, he is one of only five players in franchise history to lead all scorers in a playoff game.
Unlike most professional basketball players, Mitchell does not spend his days at the free throw line, but instead features in the offense. For example, the Utah Jazz have the top-rated defense in the league, a feat which he helped them accomplish. Not only that, but Donovan Mitchell has been selected to the Western Conference All-Star game for four consecutive months. This is more impressive considering he has never averaged more than 26.5 minutes per game.
When he's on the court, he's a force to be reckoned with, averaging 28.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, and ranking fourth in the NBA in shooting percentage. Over his past ten games, he's also logged two steals and nine assists, while averaging just over 28 points in each of those games.
Despite his limited playing time, the 6-foot-3 guard is making his mark on the Jazz. During the team's 145-134 overtime win over the Bulls on Monday, he scored eight points, dished out two assists and made an impressive eight three-pointers. As a matter of fact, he is the only player in Jazz history to make more than six three-pointers in a single game.
While he hasn't reached superstar status, Donovan Mitchell is a key piece of Utah's future. He signed a multi-year deal with the team in March and has reportedly donated millions of dollars to help upgrade the court system at the Children's Village Community Center in New York. In addition to his many charitable endeavors, he's pledged at least $10 million to his former grade school, Greenwich Country Day School. A basketball fan at heart, Mitchell was a Knicks fan as a kid and attended several games at Madison Square Garden as a youngster.
Donovan Mitchell also was a contender for the Rookie of the Year award, finishing second amongst his peers. During his senior season at Louisville, he led his team in scoring and was a member of the All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team. His contributions have been recognized in various ways, from being awarded the most efficient offensive player to winning the NBA's official dunk contest.
While Donovan Mitchell hasn't won a championship, he's one of the most talented and versatile players in the game today. He's not only been named to numerous All-Star games, he's also been a finalist for the NBA's Community Assist Award. However, he doesn't get as much playing time as some of his peers, like Joe Ingles or Rudy Gobert.