Utah Jazz: 3 MVP traits of Donovan Mitchell since All-Star break
by Matt Giles
Recent MVP traits of Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell: Efficient production
The 2020-21 version of Donovan Mitchell comes with a long list of career-high averages, many of which should be at least within a step or two of reaching the MVP level (increases from his previous best in parentheses):
- 25.8 points per game (+1.8)
- 4.5 rebounds per game (+0.1)
- 5.4 assists per game (+1.1)
- 39.4 percent beyond the arc (+2.8)
- 3.4 makes from three per game (+0.9)
- 5.6 free throw attempts per game (+0.7)
In addition, it’s worth noting that Mitchell is managing these higher marks without turning the ball over more often (2.7 or 2.8 per game in every season thus far) and while averaging the second-fewest minutes of his career at 33.6 per game.
As for Mitchell’s key averages and percentages in his 15 games since the All-Star break, it’s quite simply some top-shelf stuff:
- 28.9 points per game
- 4.1 rebounds per game
- 5.3 assists per game
- 1.1 steals per game
- 47.9 percent from the field
- 40.5 percent beyond the arc
- 88.3 percent from the charity stripe
- 6.3 free throw attempts per game
- 2.4 turnovers per game
- +83 plus/minus
Efficient stardom. Plain and simple…
the NBA-leading Jazzmen</a>, the former is the one verifiably beaming with all-around brilliance in recent weeks. Plus, given Gobert’s relative limitations on the glitziest end of the floor, Mitchell’s season stats come closest of the two to mirroring a typical modern-day MVP campaign.</p>
<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/09/utah-jazz-3-mvp-traits-donovan-mitchell/2/"https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/07/utah-jazz-2-threaten-rudy-gobert-dpoy/">2 players threatening Rudy Gobert in Defensive Player of the Year race</a></p>
<p>In just his fourth season since going No. 13 overall out of Louisville at the 2017 NBA Draft, the 24-year-old Mitchell is displaying marked improvement in almost every metric from his first three years as a pro. And that’s certainly saying something considering the native New Yorker had previously attained All-Rookie and All-Star status.</p>
<p>Although his name rarely pops up in the current MVP conservation, which tends to favor big-market players, there’s no denying Mitchell appears to be on a mission to carry the Utah Jazz (39-13) on his back all the way to the promised land.</p>
<p>Maybe the day is a year or more away, but the following three invaluable traits ought to eventually land “Spida” in the NBA MVP discussion…</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/09/utah-jazz-3-mvp-traits-donovan-mitchell/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Efficient production </a>
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<h2>Recent MVP traits of Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell: Efficient production</h2>
<p>The 2020-21 version of Donovan Mitchell comes with a long list of career-high averages, many of which should be at least within a step or two of reaching <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/09/utah-jazz-3-mvp-traits-donovan-mitchell/2/"https://www.nba.com/news/category/kia-race-to-the-mvp-ladder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the MVP level</a> (increases from his previous best in parentheses):</p>
<ul>
<li>25.8 points per game (+1.8)</li>
<li>4.5 rebounds per game (+0.1)</li>
<li>5.4 assists per game (+1.1)</li>
<li>39.4 percent beyond the arc (+2.8)</li>
<li>3.4 makes from three per game (+0.9)</li>
<li>5.6 free throw attempts per game (+0.7)</li>
</ul>
<p>In addition, it’s worth noting that Mitchell is managing these higher marks without turning the ball over more often (2.7 or 2.8 per game in every season thus far) and while averaging the second-fewest minutes of his career at 33.6 per game.</p>
<p>As for Mitchell’s key averages and percentages in his 15 games since the All-Star break, it’s quite simply some top-shelf stuff:</p>
<ul>
<li>28.9 points per game</li>
<li>4.1 rebounds per game</li>
<li>5.3 assists per game</li>
<li>1.1 steals per game</li>
<li>47.9 percent from the field</li>
<li>40.5 percent beyond the arc</li>
<li>88.3 percent from the charity stripe</li>
<li>6.3 free throw attempts per game</li>
<li>2.4 turnovers per game</li>
<li>+83 plus/minus</li>
</ul>
<p>Efficient stardom. Plain and simple…</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/09/utah-jazz-3-mvp-traits-donovan-mitchell/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Leading by example </a>
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<h2>Recent MVP traits of Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell: Leading by example</h2>
<p>Without Donovan Mitchell’s ideal mix of unselfishness and load-shouldering in his starring role — not exactly an easy combination to find in the NBA — there’s just no way the Utah Jazz would’ve remained <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/09/utah-jazz-3-mvp-traits-donovan-mitchell/2/"https://www.cbssports.com/nba/standings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No. 1 in the league</a> for this long past the All-Star break.</p>
<p>Most recently, without his like-clockwork infusion of energy out of the gates at tipoff and coming out of halftime — not to mention in crunch time — there’s just no doubt the squad would’ve lost in a rout to both the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns in its road trip this week. Instead, with Mitchell running the show, Utah has exhibited admirable resolve in spite of the brief losing streak.</p>
<p>Speaking of losing streaks, without Mitchell, there’s just no telling if the Jazz would’ve been able to bounce back from Wednesday’s overtime loss in Phoenix with Thursday’s 122-103 home win over the now-dangerously healthy Portland Trail Blazers.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1380387480222978053?s=20</p>
<p>Yet by routinely activating full “Don Mode” this week, especially evident toward the end via his 78 points in a 26-hour span, Donovan Mitchell ensured the team was able to survive the brutal schedule with its pride and “top spot” standing intact (lead over the Suns is back to 2.5 games after Phoenix’s loss at the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night)…</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/09/utah-jazz-3-mvp-traits-donovan-mitchell/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Timely buckets </a>
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<h2>Recent MVP traits of Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell: Timely buckets</h2>
<p>Darting from the 3-point line to the rack, there’s arguably nobody in the NBA quicker and more explosive than Donovan Mitchell. With that bucket-getting tool always at his disposal, defenders have no choice but to respect his driving ability, thereby always giving the frequent Utah Jazz savior the opportunity to turn a strong jab step into a stepback 3-pointer or midrange jumper.</p>
<p>Furthermore, in terms of transition buckets, often stemming from Mitchell’s revved-up motor on the defensive end as of late, well, there’s clearly just no stopping “Downhill Don” either:</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1380363965713223683?s=20</p>
<p>The tactic is clear — except, of course, when he manages to execute several razzle-dazzle dribble moves within the span of a few seconds, resulting in a silky splash from somewhere — yet opponents have proven unable to consistently stop it. That much was clear in the final seconds of regulation against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MONSTER 3 <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/09/utah-jazz-3-mvp-traits-donovan-mitchell/2/"https://t.co/fN04dmfsa0">pic.twitter.com/fN04dmfsa0
<p>— utahjazz (@utahjazz) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/09/utah-jazz-3-mvp-traits-donovan-mitchell/2/"https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1380013584885764103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 8, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Regardless of <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/09/utah-jazz-3-mvp-traits-donovan-mitchell/2/"https://thejnotes.com/2021/04/08/utah-jazz-sitting-pretty-despite-losses/">the loss that ensued</a>, Mitchell’s above swish to force overtime was just one more indicator of MVP-temperature blood running through his veins during the kind of moments when most human beings have a tendency to freeze.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="15 best Utah Jazz draft picks of all time" data-url="https://thejnotes.com/2019/06/14/utah-jazz-counting-top-15-draft-picks/" data-call-to-action="Next"
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<p>It’s not been a perfect stretch by the Jazz or even the best in the league during this span since the All-Star break. That said, largely thanks to Donovan Mitchell, Utah is 12-4 in that time with no blowout losses on its record and seven of its wins being by 15 points or more. MVP-esque.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">