The years follow one another and are the same for Donovan Mitchell, who raises the tone on the offensive level during the playoffs. With a career average of 27.8 points at this stage of the competition, he already had the eighth best average in history before the start of the 2024 campaign.
Last night against the Magic, to honor its status, “Spida” attacked the series by planting 30 points to guide the Riders towards an important success in Game 1. A boss match from the one who appreciates all the more the fact of shining at the opening of a series.
“ It's about setting the tone » he reacted afterwards. “ It's exciting and I love it. It's great, but it's only one game left. It's about trying to set the tone, but now we have to do it again, again and again. »
The man from Game 1?
For the record, this now makes five Game 1s in a row in which Donovan Mitchell scores at least 30 points. Proof that he constantly wants to score in the first match of a series…
“ He's ready for these moments » assured his coach, JB Bickerstaff. “ These are the first games, the most important even in the regular season… He has the ability to understand how important it is to start well. Some people may have an idea or have that thought, but he has the ability to do it over and over again.. »
However, Donovan Mitchell has been struggling for several weeks with persistent knee discomfort and he does not yet say he is 100% physically, even if he declared that he is ” 1% better every day » in a press conference. In any case, don't count on him to make possible excuses, because only victory matters to him…
“It’s just a match…”
“ Here is who I am. That's been my message all season. That's why I'm here. But it's only one match. So now we have to reproduce it with consistency » he warned. “ It's great to get this win, this way, but this is the team we are and expect to be. »
Donovan Mitchell's message is therefore rather clear: do not release the pressure against an opponent like Orlando, who obviously has nothing to lose.
“ We must have the same attitude until we have four victories.” he concludes. “Then four more times. Then four more times… That's great, but it's only one match, we still have to do the same thing three more times. Then repeat, and so on… »
| Donovan Mitchell | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 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 | 68 | 36 | 48.4 | 38.6 | 86.7 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 28.3 |
| 2023-24 | KEY | 55 | 35 | 46.2 | 36.8 | 86.5 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 26.6 |
| Total | 468 | 34 | 45.0 | 36.6 | 84.3 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 24.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
