Donovan Mitchell has never played next to anyone like Mike Conley. And Mike Conley’s never played next to anyone like Donovan Mitchell.
Perhaps the second statement is more meaningful than the first, after all, Conley’s played 12 years of NBA basketball before this season. But among the perimeter scorers he’s played with, who is anything like Mitchell? Tyreke Evans? Tony Allen? Lance Stephenson? Courtney Lee? Rudy Gay? OJ Mayo? Juan Carlos Navarro? Mitchell’s proved to be more capable than any of those guys in only two seasons of NBA play.
Likewise, Mitchell’s spent his whole NBA life playing next to Ricky Rubio — unless the point guard was hurt, and then he played next to Royce O’Neale.