Though it can sometimes be little more than an over-used cliche, there’s no denying that there’s also some amount of truth to the idea of players going through a sophomore slump. There have been a number of players throughout NBA history that have gotten off to a dazzling start as a rookie, only to come back and disappoint somewhat in their subsequent year.
The Utah Jazz’s former rookie phenom turned sophomore Donovan Mitchell came into the 2018-19 season with electrifying expectations. After bursting onto the scene and taking essentially the entire league by storm in his first year as a pro, fans, the media, the Jazz organization and Donovan himself all expected a big leap in year two.