Utah Jazz: 2018-19 NBA season preview

Storyline 1: Development of Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell had one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory. With 20.5 points, 3.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game, many feel that he should’ve beat out Ben Simmons for Rookie of the Year.

His star emerged in the playoffs, where he outplayed both Russell Westbrook and Paul George in their first round victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 171 points he scored in the series were the third-most points scored in a playoff series by a rookie in NBA history.

Though he had an exciting rookie season, Mitchell has areas of his game that need to be improved during his sophomore campaign. He struggled with decision-making last season, averaging nearly three turnovers per game. Though he’s a good free throw shooter, he only made it to the charity stripe for 3.8 attempts per game. Also, he’s inconsistent from beyond the arc, and the Jazz would benefit greatly if he could improve upon his 34 percent 3-point percentage.

Mitchell is a dynamic player, and if he continues to develop his game will cement himself as a legitimate superstar in the NBA. If he improves dramatically, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him lead the Jazz to the Western Conference Finals.