Is Donovan Mitchell The Best Second-Year Player To Build Around?
Mar 28, 2019, 8:43 PM
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz smiles after making a shot during a pregame shoot around before their game against the Phoenix Suns at the Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 6, 2019 in Salt Lake City , Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A recent poll of NBA coaches and executives revealed that Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is one of the top choices of second-year players to build a team around.
In the voting, Mitchell finished second behind, who else, Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons.
However, according to a few of the polled and the hosts of KSL’s Unrivaled, Mitchell is a far better option than Simmons.
“Mitchell can carry a team,” one Western Conference coach said. “He’s done it already.”
“He can handle and pass, make big shots and compete on defense,” an Eastern Conference coach said. “He’s ahead of those [other] guys right now.”
👀⚔️👟
(Via @spidadmitchell insta story) pic.twitter.com/F7nIm58RHv
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 28, 2019
Talking about the poll, which was conducted by ESPN, KSL Sports’ Jeremiah Jensen gave the edge to Mitchell.
“I think that Donovan is doing more with less talent around him than Ben Simmons right now,” said Jensen while mentioning that Simmons plays on the same time as all-NBA talent like Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler.
After conceding that Simmons has exceptional talent, Jensen also said that he would pick Mitchell over him due to his off-court persona as well.
“If I’m a general manager and I want someone to be the face of my franchise and I want someone to be a leader on my team, I want Donovan Mitchell not someone who’s dating a Kardashian,” said Jensen referring to Simmons’ past relationship with Kendall Jenner.
Jensen’s co-host Scott Mitchell agrees with him.
“He’s kinda to me like a Draymond Green or Dennis Rodman or even a Rudy Gobert,” said the non-basketball playing Mitchell. “They’re an essential part of a championship team…I don’t see him as this is the complete package that I’m going build my entire (team around), he’s a component to it.”
F A M I L Y #TeamIsEverything | @MountainAmerica pic.twitter.com/V2m0kktdpy
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 28, 2019
Scott Mitchell continued to praise Donovan Mitchell for the Jazzman’s continued growth, even after an incredibly impressive rookie campaign last season.
“I honestly don’t know all the fuss about Ben Simmons is, I really don’t,” said Mitchell to Jensen.
Subscribe to KSL’s Unrivaled, listen live on KSL NewsRadio or check out episodes and highlights on KSLSports.com.
