Utah Jazz: How Donovan Mitchell could take over All-Star Weekend
With Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell set to take part in the Rising Stars Challenge and Slam Dunk Contest this weekend, here’s how Mitchell could take over the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend.
For many around the NBA, the annual All-Star Break provides a time for players, coaches and organizations as a whole to regroup and take a step back before getting back to work and finishing out the rest of the regular season in the coming months.
For some, though, the work and hectic schedule that the NBA presents doesn’t stop. That is the case for Utah Jazz rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell, in his first season in the league, has taken the league — especially the Jazz fanbase — by storm so far during the 2017-18 year.
Through three quarters of the regular season, Mitchell is right near or even at the top of many Rookie of the Year lists, averaging 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 32.1 minutes a game. Through 55 games, he is also shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from behind the arc.
Those stats, along with Mitchell leading Utah on its current, impressive 11-game winning streak, has earned the rookie the opportunity to showcase his skills on an even larger scale this weekend at the 2018 All-Star festivities.
The 21-year-old will have a busy weekend, one that will include him taking part in the 2018 Mountain Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night and the 2018 Verizon Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, the home of All-Star Weekend.
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With the talent and impressive play Mitchell has displayed so far this season, it’s safe to say the rookie certainly has the ability to take over All-Star Weekend.
The first test for Mitchell will be that Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, which allows fans to catch up on getting familiar with the future of the NBA. If anyone isn’t that familiar with Mitchell yet, they will get to know him quickly in that game.
The Rising Stars game will feature a matchup between the U.S. Team and the World Team. Mitchell will be on the U.S. Team, which also features the likes of Boston Celtics guards Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox and Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, among others.
Mitchell and the U.S. Team will face a talented World Team roster, which contains the likes of Philadelphia 76ers young guns Ben Simmons, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid, as well as Kings guard Buddy Hield and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, among others.
The Rising Stars game will allow Mitchell to test his skills not only against some of the top young talent in the NBA, but will also present the challenge of facing players around his same skill level. It should be interesting to see how it plays out and if Mitchell is able to separate himself from the rest of the pack once again.
The second opportunity of the weekend for Mitchell will come on Saturday in the Slam Dunk Contest, where he will face Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. and Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. in one of the most anticipated competitions that All-Star Weekend presents.
The Rising Stars Challenge will take place at 9 p.m. (ET) on Friday, while the Slam Dunk Contest will start at 8 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, with both competitions taking place at STAPLES Center and airing on TNT.
It’s been an impressive season thus far for Mitchell in Utah, but his work doesn’t stop this weekend like it might for others around the league.
Next: 2017-18 Week 18 NBA Power Rankings
With his talent and skill that he has presented already this year, Mitchell has the ability to once again catch the attention of everyone around the NBA, this time on one of the league’s biggest stages at All-Star Weekend.