Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
JAZZ BOND IS THE KEY FOR MITCHELL
DONOVAN MITCHELL is hoping to help the Utah Jazz make some sweet play-off music in his first season as a pro.
The shooting guard is in the running to be NBA rookie of the year as he prepares to face the Los Angeles Lakers tonight with just three games left in the regular season.
But Mitchell is not one to blow his own trumpet and knows that team bonding has been the key to getting the Jazz within a couple of wins of qualifying for the playoffs that start on Saturday.
He said: “We’re flowing right now and the important thing is we approach every day the same. We stay the same mentally. This team is special. We hang out, on and off the court.”
The first-year player has been taken under the wing of Spaniard Ricky Rubio, who has mentored him and is encouraging him to take responsibility even if he is a rookie.
Mitchell said: “I try not to be the young guy. I try to hold myself to a higher standard. Right now it’s higher than I originally anticipated.
“I accept his criticism. Being the one who takes the blame, I’m all for that but he allows me to get on with it and praises me as well.”
And the 21-year-old has also learned what not to do if he wants to be a success in the big time.
“A lot of guys in this league, especially at my age, they want to go out and they want to be all over the place. That’s just not me. I think that has helped me a lot.”