When the Sacramento Kings drafted Davion Mitchell with the ninth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, concerns over the selection were legitimate. How would he fit into an already-guard-heavy team? And why use a lottery pick on someone that would be 23 years old before his rookie year even commenced?
Mitchell’s offensive numbers are not much to celebrate at the moment. He combined for just five points in his first two games before breaking out for 22 points in Sunday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. He hit only two shots in his first two games – neither of them 3-pointers – despite playing in 56 minutes. Mitchell hit nine shots on Sunday, including three 3-pointers.
It’s only been three games, but Davion Mitchell is already proving why he’ll be a vital part of the Sacramento Kings moving forward.
Mitchell has made other positive impacts on the offensive end. He’s dished it plenty, averaging 3.7 assists in his first three games. The rookie has also taken care of the ball, not turning it over in his first two games before losing it twice on Sunday.
The Mitchell pick was always going to be about the defense he brings, though. He’s the reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year from his Baylor days. So far, he’s carried that mentality into the pros.
On a basic level, Mitchell is harassing defenders, getting into passing lanes and swiping the ball from opponents. The guard has four steals in his first two NBA games.
Beyond that, however, Mitchell has gone head-to-head with some of the best scorers in the NBA and walked away with one-on-one victories. Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, CJ McCollum – none have been able to get the better of Mitchell in a significant way.
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Steph Curry did manage to drop 27 points against the Kings but compared to the Warriors’ star’s other performances this year, that can nearly be considered a win defensively for the Kings.
Through the first few games, Mitchell ranks third on the Kings with a defensive box plus/minus of -0.3; before Sunday, he was also one of only three on the team with a positive defensive box plus/minus. Only Richaun Holmes and Tyrese Haliburton are ahead of him.
Again, this is the definition of small sample size – three games. Mitchell could easily get roasted his next time out on the field. But the way he plays – his mentality on the defensive end – suggests he already knows his role in the league and is going to fight every game to fulfill it.
The NBA is an offensive league and Mitchell is going to have to show a little more on that end at a consistent level like he did on Sunday. His history suggests he can do it. During his last year at Baylor, Mitchell averaged 14.7 points per game en route to a national championship. He also managed to hit an astounding 44.7 percent of his threes that season.
He was better in the preseason too, when he averaged 11.5 points per game in four contests. He hit an average of 2.5 3-pointers during the exhibitions, knocking down more than half of his 3-point attempts. In time, he’ll round into form on offense.
Davion Mitchell is quickly becoming more than a lottery pick for the Sacramento Kings. He’s becoming a defensive ace and a potential Rookie of the Year candidate.