Donovan Mitchell, the star of the Cleveland Cavaliers, quickly made an impact as a rookie with the Utah Jazz, but it wasn’t until his second NBA season that he recognized his own special talent. According to Mitchell, it was feedback from critics like ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that helped him realize his place in the league.
Mitchell reflected on his early career, saying, “During my rookie year, there were times I doubted whether I belonged in the NBA. I came from baseball and didn’t seriously start playing basketball until my junior year of high school. Even when I was performing well, it felt unreal, like I was in a video game.”
He continued, “It wasn’t until my second year when media criticism started to surface that I understood I truly belonged. I was getting praise during my rookie year, but as the second year began with more skepticism, overcoming that doubt made me realize I was respected. It was then that I stopped letting media opinions affect me and understood that the greats go through ups and downs.”
As a rookie, Mitchell averaged 20.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, with impressive performances in the playoffs. Although his sophomore season saw some struggles, he ended up averaging 23.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Since then, Mitchell has earned five consecutive All-Star selections and has established himself as a key player for the Cavaliers.
