Projecting the 20 most promising young duos in the NBA

16. Donovan Mitchell and Emmanuel Mudiay (Utah Jazz)

Emmanuel Mudiay entered the NBA in 2015 with more hype and intrigue than Donovan Mitchell had when he debuted in 2017.

Today, Mitchell is the go-to guy and face of the Utah Jazz, while Mudiay has come to Utah to get a fresh start and remind everyone why he was such a big-deal prospect in the first place.

Mudiay was one of the top high school recruits in the nation when he decided to skip college and play professionally in China. After one year overseas, he was the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft. Now the 23-year-old point guard is on his third NBA team after decent but forgettable stints with the Nuggets and New York Knicks.

Mitchell left Louisville after a stellar sophomore year and was taken with the 13th pick in the draft. He took most of the basketball world by surprise when he was an immediate star as a rookie, leading the Jazz to the playoffs and taking down a star-studded OKC Thunder team in the first round.

Last season, Mitchell averaged 23.8 points, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game, leading Utah back to the playoffs. This summer, the 23-year-old shooting guard is one of the top players on the U.S. national team at the FIBA World Cup.

Mitchell is already proven. Mudiay is on a one-year “prove-it” contract, slotted behind veteran Mike Conley Jr. on Utah’s depth chart at the point guard spot.

Mitchell will set the tone and be the biggest factor in how Utah’s future plays out, while Mudiay can carve out an important role for himself in whatever that future looks like.