After nine minutes of play, the Magic were behind in the score against … the only Donovan Mitchell. He had scored 16 points where the entire Florida team had scored 15. With his 34 points in the end (12/21 on shots including 7/11 from afar), the back signed a new high-level performance , in the vein of what he has produced since the start of the season.
Best scorer, with nearly 29 points on average – his best career production and levels of skill close to the famous “50/40/90” never achieved for him – third stronghold in the East, he does not is not far from the most serious candidates for the title of MVP.
Beyond the personal and collective success, it is the feeling of the fulfilled player in his new environment that emerges. Asked about the subjecton the fact of seeing him smile more often in particular, the back player of the Jazz confirms: ” This is not a tackle to my guys in Utah, I don’t want my post to be misinterpreted, especially on my Twitter. But I’m having fun again and it feels good. »
Implied he had lost some of that fun with the Jazz, in a final season ending on a high note of frustration that saw Danny Ainge blast the team’s heart, transferring the pair Donovan Mitchell- Rudy Gobert.
Sometimes we need a fresh start
” The results… Let it be 30 points (marked) or 2, whatever. It’s fun and there’s no shame (to have) because I love all the guys I’ve played with. But I take pleasure in the game. Sometimes you need a new start to find this joy of playing, including when it’s complicated, like this series of five defeats in a row. There is always fun in the game », Develops the rear.
His arrival in Cleveland may have raised some questions, particularly in relation to his integration into a group in the process of solidifying around Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He has the feeling of having found his place because he has ” fill a void “. In terms of leadership.
” It must be understood that some have not known what I have known. When I say something, they may not understand what I’m talking about. So the idea is to try to teach when I deliver the message. […] There are little things that seem insignificant at the time, but it has an impact. I evolved with Rick Pitino (note: in Louisville) who yells a lot… I’ve come to realize that you can’t do that with everyone in the NBA. This group is made up of guys who want to learn, progress, and become great players. It allows me to speak up and the guys listen. »
| Donovan Mitchell | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 79 | 33 | 43.7 | 34.0 | 80.5 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 77 | 34 | 43.2 | 36.2 | 80.6 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 23.8 |
| 2019-20 | UTH | 69 | 34 | 44.9 | 36.6 | 86.3 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2020-21 | UTH | 53 | 33 | 43.8 | 38.6 | 84.5 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 | UTH | 67 | 34 | 44.8 | 35.5 | 85.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 25.9 |
| 2022-23 | KEY | 20 | 36 | 49.0 | 42.2 | 88.5 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 5.1 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 28.4 |
| Total | 364 | 34 | 44.3 | 36.4 | 83.6 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 24.1 | |
