Has anybody read this interview about Donovan Mitchell time in Utah? Talks about the difficulty of being black and dealing with the racism of Utah

[DonB90]

I'd cry if I was drafted to play in Utah

 

[CHICAGO]

Only if he didn't rely on taxpayer funds whatsoever.

HE DIDNT...
THE CITY WOULDNT HELP
FUND A NEW ARENA
SO HE PAID THEM 75 MILLION
TO BREAK THE LEASE AND LEAVE TOWN.



​

 

[Deus]

HE DIDNT...
THE CITY WOULDNT HELP
FUND A NEW ARENA
SO HE PAID THEM 75 MILLION
TO BREAK THE LEASE AND LEAVE TOWN.



​

I wasn't arguing. I'm saying, a team owner has the right to move their team as long as don't ever take taxpayer money

 

[Art Barr]

Lakeshore drive…

Art Barr

 

[Art Barr]

$25 gets you an Amtrak ticket from MKE to Chicago, and the ride is an hour and some change. At least you have the option for big city just outside MKE.

Amtrak is never the move into chicago. Might as well rent a car.
if you wanna get treated.
treat ya self on some bullshyt to amtrak.
Plus tack four more hours on that ride.
simply because of whatever cause that ride is whatever.



fukk amtrak into Chicago.



Art Barr

 

[Art Barr]

Never in life should a white person ever have the audacity to tell a black man what they need to know about their own history.

This.


Art Barr

 

[Fresh]

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.

from this article Mitchell seems to be a cool dude, wish him the best in his career


on a side note I've always wondered about Black players in Utah and the racism they must face, me personally I don't even think Utah should have a team, as an NBA fan I think Seattle should have a team again, move the team there, or Vegas or something

 

[drifter]

from this article Mitchell seems to be a cool dude, wish him the best in his career


on a side note I've always wondered about Black players in Utah and the racism they must face, me personally I don't even think Utah should have a team, as an NBA fan I think Seattle should have a team again, move the team there, or Vegas or something

There's been stories of black players either indifferent to or liking Utah/playing for the Jazz. I can imagine if they weren't making millions it'd be different but some like how laid back it is and I can see value in that

They usually hover around the top half of league attendance and when they were the top seed a few seasons ago they were #1 there's your answer for why they still exist, but yeah playing there will always be a tough sell. People talk about Portland but at least you're right near Seattle & Cali, Utah's just mormons and amish people riding goats around and shyt

 

[Fresh]

There's been stories of black players either indifferent to or liking Utah/playing for the Jazz. I can imagine if they weren't making millions it'd be different but some like how laid back it is and I can see value in that

They usually hover around the top half of league attendance and when they were the top seed a few seasons ago they were #1 there's your answer for why they still exist, but yeah playing there will always be a tough sell. People talk about Portland but at least you're right near Seattle & Cali, Utah's just mormons and amish people riding goats around and shyt

thanks for the Utah attendance level info breh, I guess if it makes dollars it makes sense

but still, I remember when Rodman played for San Antonio he said the Mormons in Utah were getting on his nerves lol

I also remember when Karl Malone left the Jazz for the Lakers and the Utah Jazz fans were mad p1ssed and made fun of him

not that any of the above has to do with 'cism per se, I'm just going down memory lane

but either way as a basketball fan I miss Seattle having an NBA team, even tho I'm a Knicks fan I liked the Sonics in the 90s with Kemp, the Glove, and Detlef(sp?)

later on I'm going to have to look up why Seattle moved because the Sonic fans were always lit, unless a fellow Coli breh has the short answer, which I would return with rep points because I don't feel like looking it up, lol

 

[King Static X]

There's been stories of black players either indifferent to or liking Utah/playing for the Jazz. I can imagine if they weren't making millions it'd be different but some like how laid back it is and I can see value in that

They usually hover around the top half of league attendance and when they were the top seed a few seasons ago they were #1 there's your answer for why they still exist, but yeah playing there will always be a tough sell. People talk about Portland but at least you're right near Seattle & Cali, Utah's just mormons and amish people riding goats around and shyt

Nah, the Amish are in Pennsylvania.

Utah is a state if you're into the outdoors (skiing & snowboarding in the winter, hiking, biking, rock climbing, rafting, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, etc). However, if you're not into that kind of stuff, then you wouldn't enjoy your time there.

Also, Utah is overall a conservative state, so yeah

 

[King Static X]

later on I'm going to have to look up why Seattle moved because the Sonic fans were always lit, unless a fellow Coli breh has the short answer, which I would return with rep points because I don't feel like looking it up, lol

Fellow Knicks fan here. I also miss the Sonics.

Anyway, the Sonics were sold to an Oklahoma businessman named Clay Bennett in 2006 by former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. Bennett wanted the public to fund a new arena, but that didn't happen. So he moved the team to his home state and rebranded.

However, most Sonics fans believe that Clay Bennett always wanted to move the Sonics to OKC from the beginning, so he didn't put much effort into making the team stay in Seattle.

 

[drifter]

Nah, the Amish are in Pennsylvania.

Utah is a state if you're into the outdoors (skiing & snowboarding in the winter, hiking, biking, rock climbing, rafting, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, etc). However, if you're not into that kind of stuff, then you wouldn't enjoy your time there.

Also, Utah is overall a conservative state, so yeah

I was playing a bit but Utah from all accounts is a very beautiful state. The beliefs most have there is just a major drawback

My mom was stationed in Utah a few times and still tells stories about how she'd go out and be the only lick of color around. One time a boy came up to her and wanted to touch her arm because he thought the color would come off on him

You expect that in China where they think every black guy is LeBron or something that's crazy it happens in the same country you lay your head down and sleep in

 

[PHamm]

alotta nikkas in Indy and Fort Wayne. Youd be shocked at how bad some of the the pawgs are in Indiana too

Confirmed

 

[T-K-G]

Utah is a state if you're into the outdoors (skiing & snowboarding in the winter, hiking, biking, rock climbing, rafting, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, etc). However, if you're not into that kind of stuff, then you wouldn't enjoy your time there.

I felt like that about most of the states out west tbh obviously Cali is the exception but otherwise yea, I'm from the southeast, moved all around that shyt, and STILL didn't run into a fraction of the racial shyt I ran into once I started going through these western states.

Bunch of cacs living in mountains and deserts (add Mexicans if you southwest) that don't know how to act when a black person steps in the room, it sucks cuz like you said the nature shyt is amazing, but outside of that and (pawging a bit here and there) shyts gonna get weird or old very quick for you

 

[Fresh]

Fellow Knicks fan here. I also miss the Sonics.

Anyway, the Sonics were sold to an Oklahoma businessman named Clay Bennett in 2006 by former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. Bennett wanted the public to fund a new arena, but that didn't happen. So he moved the team to his home state and rebranded.

However, most Sonics fans believe that Clay Bennett always wanted to move the Sonics to OKC from the beginning, so he didn't put much effort into making the team stay in Seattle.

tried to rep you but it said I had to rep 25 other posters first, smh, but I will try to remember to rep you breh

but thanks for the info tho

I also remember, tho it's foggy because it was a minute ago, that like after Katrina, didn't the New Orleans Hornets play in OKC for a second, I'm asking because the OKC crowd was on fire , and I assumed back then when OKC finally got a team it was because the crowds were so good when the Hornets played in OKC, so when the Seattle owner wanted to move that's why, but you hit me with new info about the owner always wanting to move there etc, didn't know any of that