June 22, 2017 wasn’t all that long ago. Just two years, plus some change.
But because of everything that’s happened in Donovan Mitchell’s career — a sensational rookie campaign, leading a team to a playoff series win, and even now, being named a captain of Team USA as they head to a FIBA World Cup — it’s still difficult to remember how quickly his rapid ascent has been. But that’s the date Donovan Mitchell was drafted into the NBA, first by the Denver Nuggets, then he was immediately sent to the Utah Jazz.
Back on that date, those who are employed in the field of projecting college players to the NBA thought that offense wasn’t going to be Mitchell’s initial calling card.