Utah Jazz: Damian Lillard the latest who thinks Mitchell should be NBA ROTY

Heading into the home stretch of the 2017-18 NBA season, Utah Jazz rookie guard Donovan Mitchell has continued his historic rookie campaign, which has led many to believe he should be the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.

If you would have predicted at the beginning of the NBA regular season who the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year would be by the year’s end, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell probably wasn’t at the top of that list.

It was nothing against Mitchell, who was viewed as an athletic, talented, NBA-ready guard coming out of Louisville ahead of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Many around the league viewed the likes of Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons or Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball as frontrunners for the award, which is given to the league’s top rookie annually.

Frankly, Mitchell wasn’t considered anywhere near the top of that list at the beginning of the season. Now over the halfway mark and in the home stretch of the year, Mitchell is near or even right at the top of that Rookie of the Year list.

Mitchell’s historic season has carried him to earning the deserved recognition this year, and that has led some Rookie of the Year praise from many around the NBA. This time, it was from Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard.

Following Utah’s win over the Trail Blazers on Sunday night — extending its winning streak to nine straight heading into Monday’s contest against the San Antonio Spurs — Lillard came out and told the media following the game that Mitchell has his vote for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

According to The Oregonian, Lillard — who won the award himself in 2013 — said Mitchell “should be Rookie of the Year, for sure,” adding he thinks so “not just because of his numbers, but his impact on their team. He’s basically leading them. It’s special to see a rookie be able to do what he’s doing out there.”

That’s some high praise for the rookie from a three-time All-Star.

Although Lillard isn’t the first player to come out and show their support for Mitchell this season, he is yet another to do so.

Mitchell’s rookie resume certainly backs up Lillard’s case for who should win Rookie of the Year.

Entering Monday, Mitchell is averaging 19.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals in 31.9 minutes per game. In 53 appearances, he is also shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from 3-point range.

Among rookies, he is first in points per game (Simmons is second with 16.5 per game), first in field goals made (381), third in steals, seventh in assists and 14th in rebounds.

Mitchell was crowned the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December and January, and became the first rookie with six or more 30-plus point games (in first 50 games) since Blake Griffin in 2010-11. Mitchell is also the first rookie with two 40-point games since Griffin in 2010-11.

By the way, Griffin went on to win the 2010-11 Rookie of the Year award.

Outside of the statistics and record-breaking numbers, Mitchell has the ability to just put on a show for fans around the NBA. His athleticism, his talent and his ability to hurt you from in the paint and outside the arc is remarkable.

Oh, and he can do this, too:

Mitchell has gone from not being on many people’s radar to win the Rookie of the Year award at the beginning of the year to becoming someone at the top of the list. Lillard is just another person who has jumped on board.

Next: Biggest winners and losers of the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline

"“He’s a really, really, really good player,” Lillard told The Oregonian. “Not just for a rookie, just as a player in this league, period.”"