The NBA Twitter world has been in disarray since the Finals ended. From Dennis Rodman making diplomatic visits to North Korea to free agency chaos, who knows where tomorrow’s arguments will come from. I thought I’d do my part to soothe tensions by making a completely pointless list of the best young players in the game. At second among guards, the Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell.
Donovan Mitchell set the NBA world on fire with a slew of spectacular performances in 2017-18. Where does the Jazz guard rank among the league’s best young guards?
A few notes to consider:
- The NBA landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Positional fluidity, as well as a glut of the best guys growing up with the ball in their hands playing point guard, has led to a dearth of classic off-guards. Even guys who are classified as twos, Donovan Mitchell and Devin Booker for example, spend a ton of time with the ball in their hands running the offense. For the purposes of livelier debate, I decided to roll with young guards as a group.
- Playoff potential (or performance) is weighted heavily. Players who have a major weakness to be exploited will be docked accordingly, at least until it’s somewhat rectified.
- The list is a ranking based on projecting the players going forward, not a ranking of how good the players are right now.
- I haven’t included anyone from the upcoming draft class. Trae Young may very well be the next Steph Curry, but we won’t know for sure until he’s dropping in 30-footers at the highest level.
- This is a list of the best talent under-23. The best. All of these guys are really good. If I happen to put one guy over your favorite player, it’s not that I hate your favorite player or team. Please try to remember this before you set fire to my Twitter mentions calling me an idiot (though you certainly might be right in a more general sense).
Number Two: Donovan Mitchell
What a season. The steal of the 2017 draft class was incredible in year one. The Gordon Hayward heartbreak was shortlived. Mitchell (20.5/4/4) earned a full-time starting nod just twelve games into the season. He narrowly missed out on the league’s Rookie of the Year honor. Still, many around the NBA just couldn’t enjoy the ride.
Remember this?
“Donovan Mitchell is the next Rose, Wall, the next Westbrook.” — @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/WELfb3tEjs
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 13, 2018
I get the popcorn entertainment appeal of the major sports shows. I do. This isn’t the WWE, though. Takes have to be based somewhat in reality. To anyone who bothered to watch, Mitchell’s shooting was far from a problem. Though he didn’t shoot threes particularly well (34 percent in the regular season, 31.3 percent in the playoffs) it’s easy to project him getting much better. For one, Mitchell’s shot is as smooth and beautiful as they come:
If anyone wants to know what scouts mean when they say a guy shoots an easy ball, Donovan Mitchell is demonstrating. pic.twitter.com/BakOBItH8n
— Dave DuFour (@DaveDuFourNBA) June 25, 2017
Life as your team’s only off-the-bounce creator isn’t easy. Mitchell was hounded into a lot of difficult pull-up attempts which tanked his percentage. He shot over twice as many pull-up threes in the playoffs as catch-and-shoot, and the difference in shot-quality was evident in his efficiency:
Catch-and-shoot: 2.2 attempts (37.5 percent)
Pull-up: 5.0 attempts (29.1 percent)
Attacking the rim is where Spider* really sucks the oxygen from your lungs. His moves are anything but predictable. Mitchell gets incredible extension on his finishes (courtesy of a scarcely believable six-foot-ten wingspan). He understands angles. Though possessing great explosiveness, Mitchell usually finishes in and around defenders rather than over the top of them. Watch as he uses his length and perfectly timed steps to protect the ball from a visibly frustrated Klay Thompson:
*Spider really is one of the only cool NBA nicknames. Chef Curry? The Mailman? As basketball observers, we have to start putting an Old Yeller on these abominations before they gain traction.
Playoffs and Passing
Mitchell murdered Oklahoma City in the playoffs. Though his overall efficiency was just average (55.5 true-shooting), Mitchell shot 39 for 65 on shots within five-feet. His ability to plough his way to the rim at will was one of the keys to the series. The combination of footwork and touch on this possession aroused me to a point where my wife should seriously consider leaving me:
Mitchell was frequently lambasted for his shot totals and relative lack of assists. Such takes ignore the fact that he was tasked with scoring first and foremost. Also, the Jazz run one of the most egalitarian offensive systems in the league (seventh in total passes made, per NBA tracking data). Mitchell is actually a really good passer. Watch him put this halfcourt gem right on the button for Royce O’Neal:
Here, he peels off a Rudy Gobert dribble-handoff and commits three defenders to the ball. The no-look skip pass which ensues is just gorgeous:
The Jazz ranked top-four in three-point attempts from both corners, nailing them at a very efficient rate. Mitchell’s ability to draw help and ping passes to the weakside was a big reason why.
Defensively, Mitchell is already good. Not every rookie has the luxury of Quin Snyder’s coaching and the best rim-protector in basketball. It’s easier to buy into a system and put forth maximum effort when you’re winning games. However, credit where credit is due. Mitchell was a fine defender in year one.
Along Came A Spider
Though he may have been shut down in brutal fashion by the Houston Rockets, Mitchell has clearly established himself as a two-way impact player in the playoffs. Guys like Jamal Murray and Devin Booker might be fine offensively, but they’d be hunted down on defense like a pair of bleeding gazelles. Mitchell took on a pair of all-stars in his first NBA playoff series and collected heads. He was the one hunting, just ask the artist formerly known as Carmelo Anthony.
Mitchell needs to sharpen up his perimeter game. Increase his efficiency. A higher free-throw rate would also be nice. But the list of true weaknesses is a short one.
Mitchell was a serious contender for the top spot on this list. There’s a real chance he’s the best player on a western conference juggernaut next season. For Mitchell, as the great one once said, the ceiling is the roof.
