Jun 14, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after being called for a foul against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half in game four in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

‘This is our time right here’: Donovan Mitchell on Jazz bouncing back, the bright side of injury, education and more

Sam Amick
Sep 13, 2021

The plan all along was to talk with Donovan Mitchell about education and hoops, but not like this.

It’s Wednesday afternoon in these dog days of this brief NBA summer, and the Utah Jazz star is making the media rounds over Zoom with his mother/preschool teacher, Nicole, to discuss their partnership with Clorox and all the admirable work they’re doing together in America’s classrooms. Truth be told, this isn’t the kind of sanitized interview arrangement that I’d typically take part in.

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Even if you know the subject fairly well — as was the case here — the odds of having to pull teeth to get any real insight on the basketball side are pretty high because the (understandable) focus is on the charity work. In this instance, though, it just so happens that I have a major soft spot for this particular effort: My wife, Emily, is a longtime middle school science teacher who knows all too well how every extra dollar from the outside can improve the learning environment for all.

So, we would chat and, ultimately, shift the spotlight away from the hardwood and into the education realm for a bit. But as you likely noticed by now, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams beat us to it in a most illuminating way.

In a video that was taken in May but only emerged this past week, Adams blames Mitchell, the Jazz and the NBA at large for hindering his efforts to ban critical race theory in Utah’s public schools. Along the way, of course, he managed to discuss Mitchell’s perspective with the kind of condescending tone that spoke volumes about the makeup of his mind.

“I hate to use names, but I will: Donovan Mitchell is not happy with us,” Adams said at an American Legislative Exchange Council meeting in which he was explaining the failed attempts to ban critical race theory. “You start to get very popular sports stars like that who are pushing back, (and) we’ve got work to do to try to educate them. My text back (to the note about Mitchell’s view) was, ‘Let’s get after him, and let’s go tell him what we’re doing because I don’t think he really understands what happened.’ It is a problem. It’s not something that we’ve seen a lot in Utah, but it is a big issue and we’re going to deal with it.”

As Gordon Monson of the Salt Lake Tribune noted so well in his column here, Adams may as well have told Mitchell to shut up and dribble.

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Now Mitchell and his mother chose not to respond to Adams’ views — at least not yet, anyway. Mitchell has made his disappointment on the topic clear in the past, most recently in May. On this day, though, they had no interest in fueling the words of a politician who had gaslighted one of the state’s most prominent and respected figures.

“Regarding the news in Utah, I’m not going to give them the time right now because right now we’re focusing on something that’s extremely positive as far as giving back,” said Nicole, who is a longtime preschool teacher.

Or, as Donovan would put via Twitter the following day, “Ain’t gonna steal my joy.”

Even with this divisive discussion being delayed for another day, the entire sordid affair was a reminder of this reality in Utah: More than four years after the Connecticut native came Utah’s way as a draft-day steal out of the University of Louisville, his voice and presence in those parts are more meaningful than ever both on and off the floor. Last we saw Mitchell, the two-time All-Star was leaving the playoffs with a heavy heart — again — after the Clippers ended Utah’s season in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.

The Jazz had progressed from the prior postseason, when their first-round loss to Denver in the Orlando bubble inspired Mitchell to declare on the team bus afterward that, “We will not lose in the first round (again).”

If only it was that simple, it would have been considered a job well done by all. Alas, it was not.

The Jazz, who finished with the league’s best record (52-20), entered the playoffs with legitimate hopes of contending for the title. But Mitchell’s ankle injury suffered on April 16 not only took him out of action for the final 16 games of the regular season; it sparked a period of unbridled frustration when he was ruled out of Game 1 of the first round against Memphis.

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As we chronicled at the time, and as Mitchell discussed in our chat, he believed he was ready to play for the postseason opener. Then again, as he shared in detail, he was never quite the same after he returned and was forced to grow his game as a result.

“I’ve kind of got to a point where I’m appreciative of the injury for myself,” Mitchell said. “For my personal growth on and off the floor, I think that injury really — and you know me, Sam, like I love jumping through, around you or over you — (but) that injury kept me on the ground for the entire playoffs, and it allowed me to have to make decisions on the ground. Slow it down. Different things that really opened things up to (where) I was like, ‘OK, this is another level, (a) layer of my game that I can get to without (the athleticism).

“But now you’re adding back the jumping and the athleticism. The ankle feels good. I’ll be ready to go. I think last year definitely was shaky. There were just so many different obstacles with the ankle and whatnot, but — like I said — no slight to Phoenix or Milwaukee or the Clippers, you know, (but) I feel like if we were healthy, you know, we, we get to the Finals. I feel like we (would) win, but you know it’s all easy when you say ifs, ands or buts. It’s easy to say that.”

Easy, as he knows as well as anyone, has not been the norm these past two seasons. From the harrowing experience of being at the center of the NBA’s stoppage in 2020 to the health problems he’s convinced cut their 2021 aspirations down, the Jazz have spent the past few years feeling painfully unfulfilled at season’s end. Yet now — with Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert having signed long-term extensions, point guard Mike Conley re-upping in free agency last month, new owner Ryan Smith nearly a year into his tenure and Mitchell’s “big brother,” Dwyane Wade, joining the ownership operation in April — the good news is that they still see plenty of runway here.

UNPACKING THE PLAYOFFS AND THE PATH AHEAD

On the night Mitchell turned his ankle against the Pacers, the Jazz improved to 42-14. It’s a fact that was sometimes lost in the conversation about their 2020-21 campaign, as they were on pace for 61 wins if it had been a conventional 82-game affair. Typically, that’s the sign of an extremely credible championship contender.

They went 10-6 without him, then bounced back against the Grizzlies after his Game 1 absence. But then Conley missed five games against the Clippers because of his hamstring strain, and the formula used to get to that elite point was suddenly unavailable. 

Yet as I wrote back in early June, Mitchell’s ankle injury — in addition to LeBron James’ — was the kind of thing we often underestimate when it comes to long-term impact. I had a humble reminder of this truth on a trip to Hawaii around that time, when an ankle injury on a hiking trip led to a helicopter exit from the woods and a physical therapy program that remains to this day. It’s an apples-to-oranges comparison, to be sure, but the lesson learned remains: The body doesn’t heal at our pace, ignoring our wants or desires along the way.

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So, where do all of those uncontrollable factors leave his mindset as it pertains to this coming season? Mitchell, Jazz fans will be glad to hear, said his psychological slate is clean again. 

Um, I think we’re — I’m excited. I think the biggest thing is just continuing to build with what we have. You saw me (in the Orlando bubble) when we (lost to the Nuggets after being up 3-1), the tears and the heartbreak, you know? And I think we responded as a group. I remember the first thing I said on that bus is, “We will not lose in the first round. Remember, when you’re working out and you’re doing those eight reps, like remember that we lost and get that eight (reps) to 10.” You know what I mean? Stuff like that. It sounds real cliche and movie-type, but that’s what it was, and I think every guy in that locker room took that to heart. And you saw that effort put into the regular season. You know, you saw what came out of that. I don’t think anybody had us in the top eight, you know? And so for us to be there, that just speaks to the work we put in.

So now, you get to the playoffs, and (the thinking is) “We’ve been to the first round. We did that.” We get to the next one, (and) we’re up 2-0 (against the Clippers). Obviously injuries are a factor and certain things, but kudos to the Clippers for winning in six, but you know, now it’s like, “What do you take from this?” Well, it’s a similar situation, and understanding that this is a time — this is our time right here. We can get it done, and we’ve got to go out there and continue to work, and I think we need to come back with a little bit of a fire in us and understanding that there were times last year where we for… — I wouldn’t say we forgot; we allowed teams to feel comfortable, and then you get to that space where it’s a five-point lead, five-point lead, and then next thing you know they hit three shots and they’re up one. So now, the whole game changes. So now, it’s like, “We’re up five, we need to get to 15. We’re up 15, we need to stay (at) 15. It can’t be an eight-point game, like certain instances where we kind of let our foot off the gas.” This year, it’s like, “No, keep the foot on the gas. Full 48. Finish the game, finish the series, close it out and let’s get ready for what’s next.” And ultimately, we won’t be as happy until we win a chip.

With that in mind, consider this much: Mitchell, who clearly believes a healthy Jazz team was as good as any last season, couldn’t bring himself to watch most of the Finals battle between eventual champion Milwaukee and Phoenix. 

The only game I watched actually was Game 6 of the Finals, which is unheard of for me because I usually sit there and torture myself after every loss (laughs). But for me, this was … a summer for me, and this was actually the first summer (where) I didn’t do USA Basketball, there was no traveling overseas for the (Adidas) shoe tour, so it was really my first summer where I got to sit my butt down, you know what I mean? (Laughs) Just sit there and reflect and think about life, life but also the game. And be in a different headspace and be ready to lock in for when the season comes.

Any time a new owner takes over an NBA team, the culture will inevitably be impacted — especially if changes come as a result. So when longtime front office head Dennis Lindsey resigned in late July and general manager Justin Zanik was elevated to the top job as a result, it was fair to wonder how Mitchell felt about the changes to the power structure surrounding him. 

I think Ryan has done a great job since he’s come in and been the owner. Obviously Dwyane Wade helps, because he’s a guy (whom) I consider my big brother. (They) made moves to keep Mike, obviously, (to) sign myself, sign Rudy. We’ve made key additions, and I think we’re excited. I know that, for this year coming up, (it’s about) continuing to build. Like you saw, the past two years have been ended in heartbreak. And just continuing to plug, continuing to plug and plug away. I think that there’s beauty in the struggle. I said that on Instagram a few (weeks ago). Like, there’s beauty in that. And I’m at a point now where — three years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to sit here and tell you that, like to be able to tell you there’s beauty in that. There’s continued life lessons and basketball lessons, but understanding that the time is coming and you’ve just got to keep plugging away in order to get there. But as far as Ryan, he’s done a great job and Dwyane’s done a great job and we’re excited.

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GIVING BACK IN THE CLASSROOM

There are only so many jobs that are both hard and incredibly important, and teaching is most assuredly one of them. Add in the challenges that come with the COVID-19 factor, and it’s as great a time as any to hand out the roses to the ones doing it the right way for our kids.

So to hear that Mitchell was offering both time and money ($1 million) to do his part on that front was refreshing. Per the press release, the donation goes to a company called DonorsChoose that distributes “the funds to teachers to clear their supply wish lists for classrooms.” As Donovan has discussed plenty in the past, his mother has had a lasting impact on his view of education for quite some time now.

I think for me, the biggest thing is doing what you love. You know, I think that’s why I play basketball. That’s ultimately what got me to be here. …(It’s about) being able to give back to people who give back as a job — being able to give back to people who give back. I think that’s huge. And being able to give $1 million to DonorsChoose, which allows teachers to pay for school supplies…meals, disinfectants, but then also paying for wi-fi, which to me stood out the most because that was a big thing for students, a lot of students, because they didn’t have the access to have online school, so now they’re missing out during that time — especially during COVID. … I’m not a parent, but I think the consensus I heard from teammates that have kids and friends that I know have had kids and said the biggest thing that they took away from the quarantine was the appreciation for teachers because they’re with their kids all day, you know? And they don’t necessarily know seventh-grade science at the house, so being able to have that appreciation (was big).

For me, (it’s) just doing what I love. Obviously, I’ve been blessed enough (that) I could stop playing and be set for life. (But) it’s not about the money for me. It’s really about the cause and what it’s going to, and what the brand stands for. … I’m blessed to be able to be a part of it and to be able to use my platform to bring awareness to what’s needed.


Related reading

Mailbag: More small ball, rotation changes
Jones: Best offseason move, reasons for optimism in Utah

(Photo: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports)

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Sam Amick

Sam Amick is a senior NBA writer for The Athletic. He has covered the Association for the better part of two decades while at USA Today, Sports Illustrated, AOL FanHouse and the Sacramento Bee. Follow Sam on Twitter @sam_amick