Jazz Welcome Donovan Mitchell With Tribute Video

SALT LAKE CITY – The Jazz welcomed Donovan Mitchell back to Utah with a tribute video for the superstar guard in their game Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

 

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The Jazz played the video in the first quarter as a tribute to the many contributions Mitchell made during his time in the state.

The meeting marked the first time the guard returned to Utah since the Jazz traded him to the Cavaliers in September of 2022.

Mitchell Thriving After Jazz Trade

While many players have struggled to find solid footing after leaving the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell has had no problem fitting in with the Cavaliers.

Mitchell has seen his scoring average climb by nearly four points per game with the Cavaliers while dramatically improving his efficiency. He’s also kept Cleveland relevant in the standings, positioning the Cavaliers as a top-four team in the East at the midway point of his first season as a non-Jazzman.

The guard set a new career-high and Cavaliers franchise record by scoring 71 points last week in a win over the Chicago Bulls.

Donovan Mitchell has proven to be a rare exception to a traditional @utahjazz phenomenon. #takenote https://t.co/S7RU8Qlezg

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 3, 2023

Mitchell also appears poised to earn a starting nod in the All-Star game in his first year in the Eastern Conference.

Mitchell received the second-most votes among Eastern Conference backcourt players trailing only Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving.

The Cavaliers star received 1.6 million votes on the first returns, giving him a lead of more than 500,000 votes over Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden.

Mitchell has been named to three consecutive All-Star teams but was only selected as a reserve by NBA coaches.

Mitchell’s Career In Utah

The Jazz tribute video for Mitchell was well deserved after a stellar five-year career in Utah.

During the 2017 NBA Draft, the Jazz traded up to get Mitchell with the 13th overall pick. The hype around the now All-Star guard started with the Salt Lake City Summer League when he made highlight plays.

Mitchell appeared in 345 games with the Jazz including 337 starts, averaging 23.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per contest, while shooting 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three-point line.

The @utahjazz will be down three rotation regulars when they host Donovan Mitchell and the @cavs.

But they expect a warm welcome for the former Jazz great. #TakeNote https://t.co/2fXO0yxGRu

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2023

The Louisville product increased his scoring average in each of the first three seasons. During the 2020-21 campaign, Mitchell averaged 26.4 points per contest before going down to 25.9 this past season.

Mitchell helped the Jazz reach the playoffs in each of his five seasons with the organization. He played 39 games, posting averages of 28.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while shooting 43% from the floor and 36% from downtown.

During the postseason, Mitchell scored 30 points or more in 19 games, 40 points or more in four games, and 50 points or more twice. He dropped 57 points in the bubble in Game 1 against the Nuggets and 51 points in Game 4 of the same series.

 

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