Mitchell Talks Return, Shoots Down Gobert Discord Rumors

SALT LAKE CITY – Donovan Mitchell offered two pieces of good news for Utah Jazz fans on Friday when he spoke publically for the first time since suffering a concussion on January 17.

First, the guard confirmed that he was fully cleared from concussion protocols, despite what he admitted were a tough two weeks away from the team.

And second, the guard shot down recent rumors that there were ongoing issues between him and All-Star teammate Rudy Gobert.

Mitchell Returning From Concussion

The Jazz, the team’s fans, and Mitchell himself have been anxious to see the guard return to the floor after suffering a concussion in the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on January 17.

The seemingly innocuous hit ended up causing Mitchell significant issues during the recovery process, one he’s grown too familiar with in recent years.

“It was rough, this will be the fourth [concussion] in my life, second in this calendar year,” Mitchell said. “I knew I was going to take things a little bit slower but I wasn’t anticipating this.”

A step in the right direction — the @utahjazz announced that All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell has cleared concussion protocol after missing the last eight games. #TakeNote https://t.co/kOO7CNcZbf

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 3, 2022

Mitchell missed two games last season after suffering a concussion in late January but ended up missing eight games after his most recent injury.

The concussion was severe enough that the guard said he wasn’t able to take part in his customary downtime activities — playing Xbox, texting, and watching basketball.

At one point the injury was serious enough that the guard began to have concerns about his long-term health.

“It got to a point where I was kind of nervous, to be honest,” Mitchell admitted. “I was like, ‘What’s happening because I’ve had concussions before and none of them have really felt like this?'”

The guard joined the team on its mini two-game road trip through Memphis and Minnesota in anticipation of returning to the floor but realized he wasn’t progressing the way he’d hoped.

“Once I got off the plane, I basically went back to where I started, I didn’t feel good at all,” Mitchell said. “That’s when I really got a little nervous.”

However, Mitchell met with a specialist who assured the guard that his timeline wasn’t abnormal and that he could soon return to the floor.

Despite needing to take care of his health, Mithell said it was difficult watching the team go just 2-6 in his absence.

“That was a tough balance for me just being there and sitting there, knowing I don’t feel great, but wanting to be out there,” Mitchell admitted. “So it’s a balance and it eats at you.”

Mitchell Shoots Down Gobert Rumors

Tensions have been running high around the Jazz team after losing 11 of their last 14 games, but Mitchell said that didn’t have anything to do with the rumored discord between him and Jazz star center Rudy Gobert.

Shortly before speaking to the media, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst continued his report that there was brewing drama between the two Jazz stars that is “the most underplayed story in the league”.

Amid one of the toughest weeks in recent @utahjazz memory, Donovan Mitchell addressed Rudy Gobert's comments about the team's defense, and rumors he'd prefer to play in a bigger market. #TakeNote | @KSLSports https://t.co/f7uEoXBmSv

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 15, 2022

Mitchell first denied the reports in early January and doubled down ahead of Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.

“We’re good, I saw that coming in this morning,” Mitchell said. “No, we’re good. It’s just not true, lately, not true at all.”

The All-Star pointed to the team’s recent struggles as the reason for the report.

“We’ve never had this stretch of losses in a row so I guess now’s the time for all these things,” Mitchell guessed. “But it’s like, ‘just come on bro, nah, we’re good.”

Gobert remains out with the left calf strain that has sidelined him for the last five games, though ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported on Thursday that the All-Star hopes to return early next week.

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