SMOOTH JAZZ
Work ethic, led Westchester’s Mitchell to Utah, NBA playoffs
From Donovan Mitchell’s “See you next year” clap back at the taunting Oklahoma City crowd to the 38-point masterclass to back up his guarantee and eliminate the Thunder, it seems like the Utah Jazz rookie has arrived and taken the NBA by storm.
But it only has shocked those who haven’t been watching. Those closest to the Westchester-bred guard — coaches from college to AAU to high school — all insist they knew he was bound for stardom. It wasn’t a question of if but when. And after watching him outduel Russell Westbrook, apparently the answer is now.
“Sometimes the team needs a guy to take things on his shoulders,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said after the rookie guard’s transcendent Game 6. Mitchell — born and bred in Elmsford — hit eight straight shots and had 22 of his game-high 38 points in the third quarter to beat a team led by Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.
“Man,” said Mitchell, 21, “I don’t think words can really describe it.”
Neither do numbers, his 171 points through six playoff games are the third-best postseason start ever behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. Houston may find out in the second round starting Sunday what OKC learned the hard way — and those closest to Mitchell already knew.
“I knew greatness lies ahead, I just never knew how soon,” former Louisville coach Rick Pitino told The Post.
He praised the job Mitchell’s parents — Mets director of player relations Donovan Sr. and Greenwich Country Day educator mother Nicole — did raising the NBA Rookie of the Year co-favorite.
Mitchell still dotes on little sister Jordan and surprised his mother with a new car. Of course, he’s surprised much of the league, not just with his expected defense and athleticism but with his jumper and maturity.
“He’s just a special kid and Utah’s very fortunate,” said Arjay Perovic, who coached Mitchell f rom f ifth grade through high school on The City, a New York-based AAU squad. “The Knicks passed on him. … I was very disappointed. I was hoping they’d take him. I’ve been a Knick fan my entire life. Now I’m a Utah fan.
“Utah has no idea how lucky they got, a competitive player all about his team and togetherness. I’m confident at some point in his career he’ll bring a championship to Utah. It may even be this year.”
Why not? He’s won everywhere he’s been. He led The City to an AAU national title after his freshman season, the same year he willingly asked Perovic to start Kelvin Riley Jr. in the Hoop Group Pittsburgh Jam Fest for the latter’s confidence.
“He gets i t, he’s smart,” Perovic said. “He’s a student of the game. He’s one of the few guys in the NBA who genuinely love the game. During summer league, he was watching the other games. At Louisville, he was seeking to go check out high school games. Donovan’s a leader. He’s led everywhere he’s been. … Combine the mental aspect and athleticism, you get something special. Anything is possible.”
That leadership showed in rejecting the overtures of a dozen big-name shoe-sponsored AAU programs to stick with The City out of loyalty. And when he arrived at the Brewster Academy boardin schools as a junior and in less than a year was named senior prefect. He showed up a regional recruit and — en route to winning a national prep title — became the gem of defending NCAA champ Louisville’s class.
“He carries himself like a 10-year vet. I’m not surprised he’s had this success because of his mental makeup. I’ve been at Brewster 18 years. Donovan’s the only kid elected senior prefect after only one year,” Brewster coach Jason Smith told The Post. “Donovan’s mature beyond his years. His parents did a phenomenal job. … You wish you had 12 Donovan Mitchells.
“He was only being recruited by Providence and Boston College, schools in a three-hour radius. Because he didn’t have that major reputation, there was no entitlement. He was hungry. His goal was to improve every single day, and that’s what he continues to do.”
He hungered to test himself on the biggest stages.
“My son Ryan works on Wall Street, and his friends are telling him about this kid. So he calls me and says you’ve got to see this junior. I said tell your friends I assure you nobody from Greenwich, Connecticut, is going to play basketball at Louisville. Maybe lacrosse,” Pitino laughed.
“A year later … we went to South Carolina for an AAU event. One of my assistants said, ‘You know that guy you mentioned? He’s playing a game on the other court.’ Five minutes in, I said, ‘ We’ve got to live with this kid from this moment on.’”
Louisville did just that, holding off Villanova and Providence because Mitchell wanted to test himself against the best. And become the best, for which he needed a jumper.
“He felt slighted he wasn’t ranked high. He wanted to get on the big stage and show people,” Pitino said. “He wanted to be pushed. Every day between class he’d work out with me for 45 minutes.
“He said, ‘What’s going to keep me from being great pro?’ I said, ‘You’ve got everything, but one thing: You’ve got to get arc on your jump shot.’ We watched film on Steph Curry. … He spent the summer from his freshman to his sophomore year [working]. He lived in the gym day and night, working on his arc. I knew someone that possessed to work was going to make it big.”
That big- game gene Mitchell has shown the NBA? Pitino saw it after challenging him in the wake of a seven-point outing against Virginia, benching him the next game. He responded with 25 in a 77-62 rout of the 16th-ranked Hoosiers in Indianapolis.
“He just looked at me and kicked the hell out of Indiana,” said Pitino, who surmised growing up in the Mets’ clubhouse around pros helped Mitchell. “He’s a combination of confidence and humility you don’t see. It’s not an ego thing. He’s going to step on the floor and think he’s the best player, but be humble about it.
“In 41 years I coached a lot of players, none as good as Donovan in how nice, how respectful he us. He opens up doors for his mom, asks in the morning did you have a good sleep? He’s wise beyond his years. There are very few guys like him in the NBA. … There’s so much substance, but a lot of sizzle as well.”