With so many deflections on the USA National Basketball team this summer, former Louisville basketball star Donovan Mitchell may have to carry the team through the FIBA World Cup in China.
Team USA is never supposed to lose, in anything. At least that’s how it’s viewed when it comes to basketball, with the best players on the planet joining forces for international competition. This summer has been a bit different than most years, however, and that at this point isn’t a good thing and former Louisville basketball star Donovan Mitchell is right in the thick of it.
After a bronze finish in 2004, Team USA completely revamped their program with Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski taking over, and once again bringing home world dominance. Over the course of the next 12 years, Coach K along with the elite of the elite NBA talent established a new bar, going 75-1 overall while winning the gold medal in 2008 as the “Redeem Team,” in 2012, and once again in 2016 before officially stepping down.
Now with Team USA in a new era, being led by Spurs head coach and one of the best minds in basketball history, Greg Popovic, the new-look team is looking to carry on that dominance.
Unfortunately, this year as the team prepares for the 2019 World Cup, an Olympic Qualifying event, they’ll have to do so without the NBA’s premier talent.
Over the course of the last year to six months guys like Paul George, Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, CJ McCollum, Tobias Harris, Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, Paul Millsap, DeMar DeRozan, Andre Drummond and Zion Williamson have all said thanks but no thanks to Team USA leaving the roster in flux.
Even lesser-known players who don’t carry that “star” tag like Marvin Bagley III, Trae Young, Montrezl Harrell, and others have done the same, instead choosing to focus on their individual games and the upcoming season at hand.
That has left Coach Popovic with Kemba Walker, Donovan Mitchell, De’Aaron Fox, Derrick White, Joe Harris, Marcus Smart, Khris Middleton, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Harrison Barnes, Kyle Kuzma, P.J. Tucker, Brook Lopez, Myles Turner, Mason Plumlee, and Bam Adebayo vying for the final 12 spots.
While preparing to leave for their Exhibition matchups ahead of August 31st, the team has been scrimmaging against the USA Select team made up of younger, promising players, as well as a 12-man team made up of mostly G-League and former collegiate stars. In a recent scrimmage, Team USA lost by 19 points, looking like a team destined to repeat the failures of 2004.
Its left Coach Popovic in dire need for a star to carry the team.
Enter, Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell has without question been one of the most impressive players this summer while training with Team USA, with multiple highlight dunks, scoring streaks, and other quality videos being released to the public.
https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/1159464285145190400
Though he has no international experience, Mitchell is a hungry competitor, one who doesn’t accept losing.
In a recent oral history of Donovan Mitchell, the Athletic’s Jeff Greer (by way of Deng Adel) told a story of Mitchell’s competitiveness and how he handled losing the team’s first matchup in a series of exhibitions in Puerto Rico. Adel said:
"“He went back to the locker room and he was crying. I was like, Look, this is the first time you’ve ever played against this level of competition. But he was so competitive. That’s how bad he wanted to win.”"
Healthy this summer, Donovan Mitchell has been putting in the work needed to take his game to the next level and we’ll get to see that as he plays for his country in China. Former Cardinal guard and now notorious NBA Trainer Chris Brickley spoke about Mitchell’s work ethic and what makes him special, saying:
"“It’s a special thing, he’s a special kid who deserves everything. His work ethic is tremendous and he’s a better person so I’m happy for him.”"
Right now with Team USA being the laughing stock of social media, it’s time for them to turn the keys over to Donovan Mitchell. While international play for the United States squad has always been about stars sacrificing ego, and putting their “stardom” to the side for the greater good of their country, Mitchell can’t stand aside and allow the team to flail like they are.
Donovan Mitchell moves like Dwyane Wade and is built like him too; the only missing ingredient is more FT attempts. #BSPodcast pic.twitter.com/GAhYnIm83Z
— RingerNBA (@ringernba) August 15, 2019
Mitchell made it clear, it doesn’t matter who’s not with Team USA, they plan on winning. He said:
"“At the end of the day, it’s not about who’s not here. It’s about who is here,. We have a group of guys that wants to play hard and really wants to win gold. That’s our main objective.”"
He went on to say:
"“My biggest thing is to come out here and compete. Be the best defender, the best competitor, whatever I need to do to be on the floor.”"
Regardless of who has said no, Mitchell deserves his role on this team. In my mind, outside of maybe Kemba Walker, he’s the only star this team has to carry them through an important summer.
At just 23 years old, Mitchell has experience leading teams farther than they have any business going. This is a guy who has carried a team on the verge of heading to the bottom of the NBA after losing their star player, to two straight successful, winning seasons that ended with runs to the playoffs.
After averaging 20 and 23 points respectively over the course of his first two seasons, and taking the step into the next level of the elite NBA talent, the United States needs a selfless, yet talented and competitive player to take the leadership reins.
There’s plenty of talent on the roster for Team USA, don’t get that mixed up, but losing to a team made up of lesser talent it’s clear that a leader and star needs to emerge.
My money is on Donovan Mitchell to be that man moving forward, and don’t be surprised to see him lead his team to where they need to get this summer and beyond.