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Louisville basketball: Bold prediction for each former Card in the NBA

By Jacob Lane

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dribbles past Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of a game at Staples Center on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dribbles past Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of a game at Staples Center on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 22: Utah Jazz head coach Quin Synder and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz interact in the second half of Game Four during the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 22, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 22: Utah Jazz head coach Quin Synder and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz interact in the second half of Game Four during the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 22, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Donovan Mitchell – G, Utah Jazz

Prediction: Named to the 2020 Western Conference All-Star Roster

With all the hoopla surrounding the release of his new shoe, the D.O.N. Issue #1, it’s easy to overlook how hard Donovan Mitchell has been working to take his game to the next level in 2019-2020 and just how much the Jazz roster improved this offseason.

In acquiring Mike Conley Jr., the Jazz put a borderline all-star next to Mitchell while adding quality veterans, intriguing young-players, and shooting to the team in an effort to take some of the scoring pressure off of the third-year guard.

Through the first two years with Ricky Rubio and Joe Ingles as the top scorers aside from Mitchell, the former Louisville basketball star looked the part of an NBA All-Star, averaging 20.5 points as a rookie and 23.8 last season.

With the Jazz expected to be one of the Western Conference’s top teams, Mitchell making the All-Star game for the first time is almost a lock at this point. It’s worth considering that the Western Conference is loaded with teams and stars. Just at the guard position, Mitchell will have to compete with Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Stephen Curry, D’Angelo Russell, and plenty of others.

What should help Mitchell prevail is the popularity and notoriety he’s gained from the last two years of worldwide tours and this year’s subsequent shoe release. Mitchell also won’t be dealing with injuries to start the season like he did last season, something that set him back quite a bit.

There is no denying that Mitchell is getting ready to make the leap from budding potential all-star to an NBA superstar, and with that comes expectations. Mitchell will have to show new aspects of his game, something he’s done each of the last two years.

Next. Ranking the top 100 Louisville basketball players of all time. dark

Donovan Mitchell, NBA All-Star, has a nice ring to it.

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