Only Adrian Dantley, Karl Malone and “Pistol” Pete Maravich averaged more points per game in a Utah Jazz uniform than Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell also ranks eighth all-time in scoring in Jazz history in just five seasons in Salt Lake City. Moreover, “Spida” made a charitable impact with his money and time that will long be remembered by Jazz fans and Utahans.
There are 12 numbers retired in Jazz history. But even with his impact on and off the court in Utah, the former Jazz star does not believe his No. 45 jersey deserves to be hanging in the rafters retired at Vivint Arena.
“I don’t think I did enough,” Mitchell told Andscape. “I hold myself to a high standard. Now, other people may feel that it should. I’d be happy and forever grateful, honored and blessed for sure for that to happen. But I don’t think I’ve done enough in five years to have my jersey up there with Karl, John [Stockton], Pistol Pete and Darrell Griffith. I got a long way in my career to go to continue to be better.”
Mitchell starred for the Jazz from his arrival as the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft out of the University of Louisville through the 2021-22 season. The three-time NBA All-Star averaged 23.9 points, 2.8 made 3-pointers, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals in five seasons. The biggest challenges for Mitchell with the Jazz on the court included the spotlight being on his relationship with former Jazz center Rudy Gobert in recent years and winning in the regular season not translating to the postseason. Mitchell, an African American, also told Andscape that he grew weary of racial issues that took place Utah and the pushback he received for speaking out about racial equality.
The Jazz’s tune changed dramatically after the team lost in the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs to the Dallas Mavericks. Jazz coach Quin Snyder abruptly resigned, and Gobert was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Next up was Mitchell, who was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sept. 1 for forward Lauri Markkanen, rookie wing Ochai Agbaji, guard Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps. Monday night in Cleveland, Mitchell plays the Jazz for the first time since the trade. The 6-foot-1 guard will return to play in Salt Lake City for the first time on Jan. 10.
The following is a Q&A with Mitchell in which he reflects on memorable and frustrating moments during his tenure with the Jazz, why “basketball didn’t work” with him and Gobert, the “draining” part of being an African American in Utah, adapting on and off the court in Cleveland and his dreams of bringing a second NBA championship to the Cavaliers.
When did you know the end was near in Utah?
Realistically when we lost [to Dallas]. You just felt it early. I didn’t think it would be this immediate. I didn’t think it would be everything. But I knew something was going to change this summer. I didn’t know what. And then with Quin leaving I was like, ‘Oh, OK.’ And then Rudy getting traded, it’s like ‘All right, let’s go.’
What’s the reality of your relationship with Rudy and where is it now?
Honestly, basketball just didn’t work. We live in such a world where it has to be really negative. Basketball just didn’t work. We didn’t see eye to eye. We wanted to both win, but we wanted to do it two different ways. It didn’t work. But as far as him and I go as people, I don’t hate him, and he doesn’t hate me. I wouldn’t say we’re the best of friends, but we’re not at the point where it’s like, I can’t stand him.
[When I see him], I’m going to give him a hug and be happy to see him. And I wish him the best. There’s no hatred. There’s no ill will towards any of that. Basketball just didn’t work out. It happens. Our [relationship] just happened to be a little more out there than anybody else’s. But honestly, it really started with COVID. Everything we did up to that point was under microscope to the point where we were getting evaluated on how many times we threw the ball [to each other].
And that’s unfortunate, but it’s the reality of it. And it just didn’t work. I wish it did. I wish we went farther. We had the opportunity, but we didn’t. And we’re both in different spots now. But I want to wish him the best and I know he feels the same way.
How do you look back at your time with the Jazz?
We did a lot of special things. We set records. Had the best record in the league. We did a lot of things. It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, we didn’t win, so we didn’t do anything.’ But we did a lot of special things. It taught me a lot of lessons that have honestly helped me get to where I’m at to this day. I met a lot of special people, special coaches, special players.
But other than that, at the end of the day we didn’t get the job done. But I’m forever grateful for my time there. I appreciate it, and appreciate my coaches, my teammates, and appreciate them all that ultimately helped me be a better player.
What do you miss most about Utah off the court?
The [Utah Jazz] scholarship piece [giving a full college scholarship to someone for every win from 2020 to 2022] is the thing that hits home the most for me. Being able to pay for full room and board … that’s one of the coolest things just because it’s not just basketball. You’re not just playing to win it. You’re playing for something deeper than life. It’s not just about yourself. That’s something that really resonates and hits home for not just me, but everybody. I feel like we were playing for that. We were able to impact lives for generations.
You never know [if] you’ll be able to send a kid to college who is able to learn something, create something and build a legacy in their family. And now you have two, three, four, five generations of children and people going to college because of that one person. That’s something to me that’s truly meaningful. To be able to play for that, I think, was one of the cool things I’ve ever done.
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