The workload is dramatically increasing for rookie Donovan Mitchell, along with his valuation in FanDuel NBA league play.
The Utah Jazz have simply ran out of ways to keep Donovan Mitchell on the bench, a tremendous benefit for any FanDuel NBA roster featuring him.
The 21-year-old guard out of Louisville ranks third among all rookies in minutes, averaging 32.1 minutes a night, but just before the All-Star break, his time on the floor has increased by six minutes a game, enabling him to become a serious candidate for Rookie of the Year.
In the four games prior to the All-Star break, Mitchell dominated, averaging 25.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and connecting 3.0 times from 3-point range per game.
As his production has increased, so has the cost of adding him to FanDuel NBA rosters. On opening night, Mitchell could be added to any FanDuel NBA lineup for a fee of $3,300. Any FanDuel NBA rosters hoping to add him Friday will need to set aside $7,700 for his services.
With averages of 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game on the year, Mitchell is poised to join some exclusive company. Mitchell is looking to become just the seventh rookie in league history to average at least 20 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game, joining Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Ron Harper, Allen Iverson, LeBron James and Tyreke Evans.
A 44-point outing against the Portland Trail Blazers — a team Mitchell has already experienced success against — would be enough to boost his average to 20 points per game. In his previous two contests against the Trail Blazers, Mitchell has averaged 27.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Mitchell has already exploded four a pair of 40-point games this season and with Utah in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, FanDuel NBA lineups could once again benefit from his presence.