Donovan Mitchell Thinks Big Markets Are “Overrated,” Unrivaled’s Scott Mitchell Agrees

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell sure knows how to put his local fans at ease.

Although he’s still young into his already brilliant career, there’s always a feeling of impending doom among Jazz fans that their beloved superstar could one day jump ship to play in a larger market.

It happened once before to Utah in 2017 when Gordon Hayward left in free agency to sign with the Boston Celtics.

Mitchell, a much more marketable and popular star than Hayward, certainly may have a lot to gain by moving to New York or Los Angeles when the time comes in a few years. However, Mitchell himself has recently stated that he finds big-market teams, “overrated.”

Discussing what Mitchell said on KSL’s Unrivaled, co-host Scott Mitchell thinks he’s telling the truth.

In his experience as a professional athlete who has played in some major U.S. cities, Scott thinks big markets can be overrated as well.

“The only thing that’s better about a big market is you’re kind of anonymous,” said Scott, continuing to say that Donovan most likely doesn’t enjoy a certain level of privacy when roaming the streets in Utah. It could be argued that Donovan may be the most recognizable figure in the Beehive State.

Scott also doesn’t see why Donovan would need to be in a big city to grow his fame when he’s capable of growing his own celebrity from anywhere in the world through social media.

“Media has changed, the availability of players, the way that they can promote their brand is so much easier, they can do it themselves essentially,” said Scott.

According to Scott’s co-host, Alex Kirry, another remark that Donovan made about winning in small markets rings true.

USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo hinted on what Donovan Mitchell needs to do to make the FIBA World Cup roster.https://t.co/eTRf4JoJzk

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 10, 2019

“He has a way better shot at winning a title in his career in Utah than he does if he goes to the Knicks,” claimed Kirry of Donovan.

However, there is undoubtedly an appeal to big city life for young athletes that Salt Lake City can’t provide compared to the Big Apple or La-La Land.

But to Scott, who played part of his NFL career in the exciting beach city of Miami, there simply isn’t time for athletes to really take in the town they play in.

“When you’re an athlete and you’re in your season, you’re not hanging out all the time, you’re just too busy,” said Scott.

For now, Utah fans and the Jazz organization won’t have to worry about losing Donovan for quite some time. His contract is guaranteed through 2020, then he’ll have a team option in 2020-21 and finally a qualifying offer on the table in 2021-22.