Jazz rookie dispels doubts with tenacity
SALT LAKE CITY — The conversation occurred in the summer after the Jazz selected Westchester product Donovan Mitchell on draft night.
Jazz top assistant Johnnie Bryant, who worked closely with Gordon Hayward, wasn’t surprised to hear Mitchell, the 13th pick, say he wanted to win a title, wanted to be an All-Star.
“What struck me most is he wanted to be first- team all-defense as a rookie,” Bryant told The Post on the eve of the Jazz facing the Knicks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. “That was the most important thing to me. Everyone wants to win a championship, be an All-Star. The thing that stuck out to me was a first-team all-defense comment he made to me.”
Mitchell, 21, didn’t mention rookie of the year, but he’s in the hunt. In the NBA’s Kia Rookie Ladder, the former Louisville guard is ranked sec- ond this week after Ben Simmons. So actually, Mitchell is the top-rated player from the 2017 draft class, averaging 19.8 points per game on 45 percent shooting, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
The former New Milford, Conn., resident scored 34 points Wednesday in Sacramento — his fourth 30point game. He bested LeBron James on The King’s 33rd birthday in December, leading the Jazz to the win and finishing with 29 points, six assists and four rebounds. James should have derided the Knicks for not taking Mitchell rather than them passing on Dennis Smith Jr.
The Knicks scouts loved Mitchell, but instead of plucking someone from their backyard and the son of a Mets executive, Phil Jackson went to France.
Frank Ntilikina became their pick at No. 8 — for reasons similar to why Mitchell was intriguing. Mitchell wasn’t viewed as a lottery pick until June.
“Some of it was: Is he a point guard or shooting guard?,’’ Bryant said. “And if he’s a shooting guard, he’s on the smaller end. At the end of the day, he’s a guard and can play the 1 or 2. His size and length, it allows him to play bigger than he actually is. That allows him to be successful at this level. It’s his wingspan, work ethic and mindset. He’s been this underdog for most of his basketball career and plays with a chip on his shoulder.”