There are many reasons why this past season Donovan Mitchell was not only the most electrifying rookie in the NBA—but the best. In his first year in the NBA Donovan averaged 20.5 points, which led all rookies. He also averaged 6.5 points in the fourth quarter alone. In 79 games he set the single season rookie record for three pointers made with 186, surpassing Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry who are both current all stars, and in only 63 games played he made 150 three pointers, which suggests that next season he should be well over 200. Against the New Orleans Pelicans he dropped 41 points, which is not only the Jazz rookie record, but also makes him one of the only active NBA players to score 40+ points as a rookie. The other players who have done that? LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Eric Gordon, Steph Curry, and Blake Griffin. That’s pretty good company to be in.
Donovan Mitchell took a city and state full of fans depressed about Gordon Hayward leaving for Boston and made it a city and a state that was more excited to watch their NBA team than anyone else. He led a team that was 19-28 with no playoff hopes to a 23-4 record over 27 games. Donovan was the leading scorer of a playoff team in a competitive Western Conference. The last five rookies to ever lead a team in scoring and win 40 or more games in the regular season are Shaq, Carmelo Anthony, David Robinson, Larry Bird and Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell is the only rookie ever with +29% usage rate and a +50% effective field goal rating, something that only Michael Jordan has done. That Michael Jordan. He won a playoff series against a powerhouse Oklahoma City Thunder that has 2 current all stars and 3 future hall of famers in Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, and Russell Westbrook.
Not only is he amazing on the court but off the court as well. Recently he showed up at Kearns high school and talked to everyone there that had a 3.0 GPA about his life and what kept him motivated and that they should be motivated as student most importantly. He handed out bags and shirts to everyone there and then shoes to a couple lucky students. This isn't the first time he’s done something like this for the community. A few weeks ago he met this girl that was struggling with cancer and she saw him and went up to him and he took a picture. Then Donovan ran to his car for a pair of brand new shoes that he signed and gave to her, most definitely lighting up her life. There are multiple times where something like this has happened and he has been an MVP to the community and to Salt Lake City.
By - Aiden Welsh