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Donovan Mitchell is the best player in his draft class, and it isn’t close

By Daniel Bien-Aime

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 15, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 15, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /
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Donovan Mitchell continues to separate himself from the pack as the best player of the 2017 draft class.

Donovan Mitchell was named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week after a three-game stretch in which he averaged 34 points on 46.6 percent on field goals and 44.4 percent from 3-point range.

This was his second time achieving Western Conference Player of the Week honors. Nobody else in his draft class has received this honor.

The Utah Jazz are currently 36-26 and sit at the 6th seed in the Western Conference due to Donovan Mitchell’s heroics.

On the season, Mitchell is averaging 23.3 points per game on 43 percent shooting from the floor and 34 percent from 3-point. The next closest sophomore in terms of scoring is Lauri Markkanen of the Chicago bulls at 19.6 points per game.

The start of the 2019 calendar year has been favorable to Mitchell as he has averaged 26.5 points, five assists, and five rebounds per game.

Mitchell had an outstanding week of basketball by helping the Utah Jazz defeat the best team in the NBA in the Milwaukee Bucks 115-111.

Mitchell outdueled MVP front-runner Giannis Antetokounmpo by scoring 46 points, registering six assists, and shooting 5-10 from 3-point range.

Prior to that extraordinary performance, Mitchell led the Jazz to a road victory over the Denver Nuggets 111-104. The Nuggets had the second best record in the Western Conference at 42-18 prior to the game. In addition, the Nuggets had the best home record in the NBA at 27-4.

Mitchell scored 24 points on 9-19 shooting and went 4-8 from 3-point range. He also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists.  Also, he scored 32 points in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers last week 111-105.

The national media is viewing Mitchell as one of the brightest young stars in the NBA. ESPN released their NBA’s best 25 under 25: New and next superstar rankings. Mitchell was ranked 7th, Jayson Tatum was 8th, and De’Aaron Fox was ranked 9th.

After being the 13th pick in his class, Mitchell is significantly better than every sophomore in his draft class.

Look at the players drafted before him:

1. Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
3. Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum, F, Duke
4. Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, G/F, Kansas
5. Sacramento Kings: De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
6. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to Bulls): Lauri Markkanen, C, Arizona
8. New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina, G, Strasbourg (France)
9. Dallas Mavericks: Dennis Smith, G, N.C. State
10. Sacramento Kings (traded to Blazers): Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
11. Charlotte Hornets: Malik Monk, G, Kentucky
12. Detroit Pistons: Luke Kennard, G, Duke
13. Denver Nuggets (traded to Jazz): Donovan Mitchell, G, Louisville.

There isn’t a single player from that class that is the best player on their team while leading them to the playoffs. The only one that is close to that criteria is De’Aaron Fox, who is averaging 17 points and 7 assists for the 2018-19 season.

Other notable contributors from his class are Jayson Tatum, Kyle Kuzma, John Collins, and Dennis Smith Jr.

If we compare Mitchell with his contemporaries, their numbers and impacts fail to match Mitchell’s:

  • Tatum’s season averages are a pedestrian 16.1 points on 45 percent shooting and six rebounds per game as a role player.
  • Kuzma averages 18.9 points per game on  46 percentage shooting for the Los Angeles Lakers and is likely to miss the playoffs.
  • Collins of the Atlanta Hawks is playing well, averaging 19.5 and nine rebounds per game on a lottery team.
  • Smith Jr. of the New York Knicks is an supremely talented player. He is averaging 13.5 points per game but has already been traded, and fell out of favor for the Dallas Mavericks.

Mitchell’s game is the combination of Damian Lillard and Dwayne Wade. He possesses the athleticism and driving ability of Wade, but commingles his game with 3-point shooting ability of Lillard. This ability allows him to be the most explosive player in his draft class, as nobody can score at the level Mitchell can.

Mitchell is the only player in his class to register multiple 40 point games in his career. The only other player that has even scored 40 points in a game is Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers. There are 13 instances where a player from the draft class has registered 30 points and five assists. Mitchell has 11 of those career games from that class.

If the season ended today, the Jazz would have a first round playoff rematch with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mitchell averaged 28 points, seven rebounds, and three assists against the Thunder in the 2018 NBA playoffs.

Mitchell continues to separate himself from his draft class as he is the only player leading his team to a playoff berth. Every other player in his draft class in either a role player or leading their team to the lottery.

With an ever-evolving game, and a quality supporting cast, Mitchell’s career has already taken off, while most of those picked before him remain grounded. Now, Mitchell will look to take his game to a different stratosphere and become an elite, all-star caliber player in the years to come.

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