Star rookie Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz speaks with the Filipino media and fans during a press conference at an Adidas store in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Donovan Mitchell sees no problem with players joining forces to build a super team of their own in the NBA.
In fact, Mitchell could end up being part of a star-studded team if his offseason plans pan out.
Mitchell, the Utah Jazz rookie sensation, on Sunday made his pitch to lure free agent swingman Paul George to play with him and his fellow rising star Rudy Gobert.
“I’m making mine to Paul George right now. We want to win, we’re not selfish. I’m not that type of guy who comes in and says it’s my team. I’m a second-year player, he’s an All-Star,” said Mitchell, who is in Manila for the first time as part of a tour with Adidas.
Mitchell led the Jazz past George and the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games in the first round of the playoffs.
The Jazz, however, fell to the top-seeded Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals in five games.
George, a five-time All-Star, would give the Jazz another deadly offensive weapon aside from Mitchell as well as a versatile defender.
“If he comes in, he’s gonna make my life a lot easier on the offensive end. He’s also a great defender,” Mitchell, who is among this year’s finalists for the Rookie of the Year award, praised.
“We have talent and we have a crowd that sells out every night. Our coach is probably the Coach of the Year, we have a Defensive Player of the Year,” added Mitchell, referring to Quin Snyder and Gobert. “We have guys that understands what it takes to win. You don’t score 30, it’s not the end of the world.”
The 21-year-old Mitchell, who was the 13th overall pick in the 2017 draft, came out of nowhere as he took the league by storm, averaging 20.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 79 games in the regular season.
Mitchell even raised his game in the playoffs where he averaged 24.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists while also shattering numerous rookie records.