He’s able to show more here than he was maybe at Louisville, with the NBA style spacing and pick-and-roll game rather than the confides and hand checking in college. When the floor’s opened up, his skill and athleticism really shine. – Jazz assistant coach Zach Guthrie on Donovan Mitchell
LAS VEGAS — Like most 20-year-old hoop heads, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is a fan of the video game NBA 2K. In June, he started playing as himself once the Jazz traded up to nab him with the 13th overall pick. He went through career mode, mimicking what could be his real path in the NBA. When it came time to choose a virtual shoe deal, Mitchell — or the video game version of himself — picked Adidas.
On Tuesday, Mitchell got the actual contract from Adidas. This time, it was real — tangible and signed with ink capable of being smudged. And the reality of his star's expanding, ready to burst and leave a seemingly permanent light in the sky, is finally setting in for Mitchell.
“It’s a blessing,” said Mitchell about his shoe deal. “I was Adidas at Louisville, so this whole thing was a blessing. It’s a dream. I’m taking it day-by-day. To be on the Adidas team is an incredible experience. I’m just excited to start this journey.”
Before games, Mitchell regularly shows up to the court an hour early, donning his headphones and focusing on what’s ahead. He’s expected to to crack Utah’s rotation as a rookie, but his work ethic is that of a journeyman clinging to a childhood dream.
Basketball, after all, is just a game. But Mitchell, like every successful professional before him, approaches it with discipline.
“The kid is like a state senator,” said Jazz assistant coach Zach Guthrie after Utah’s loss to Memphis on Tuesday. “You meet him and you want to vote for him. I’d vote for him. He’s a great kid and eager leader. His path in the NBA is inexorable. He’s going to keep going and going. I don’t know what his upside is, but his ability to work gives him a chance. He’s going to keep grinding and get the most out of what he is.”
After losing to the Grizzlies on Tuesday, Mitchell spoke about the things he wanted to improve — how he wanted to gamble less, even though he stole the ball eight times, and how his playmaking ability has been coming along as Utah's lead guard in summer league.
Mitchell scored 37 points against Memphis — the most any player has scored in Las Vegas this year — but didn’t mention the accomplishment a single time. Instead, Mitchell chose to speak about why he likes to watch game film before every game and his willingness to defend — something most rookies tend to avoid.
“I take the time to mentally think about what can he or what can’t he do,” Mitchell said. “I sat there and watched (Grizzlies guard) Wayne (Selden) against Washington. I have that type of mentality. Offensively, it just comes out by itself. My mindset is to just play as much defense as I possibly can.”
Mitchell’s view on basketball has translated to general optimism about his future with the Jazz and his potential to eventually lead the team. Scouts and pundits alike weren’t completely sold on Mitchell after he entered the draft, but the NBA style of play could get something out of him that Utah saw during the evaluation process.
“We felt like there was skill in there that was hiding more than we thought,” Guthrie said. “He’s able to show more here than he was maybe at Louisville, with the NBA style spacing and pick-and-roll game rather than the confides and hand checking in college. When the floor’s opened up, his skill and athleticism really shine.”