Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard knows a thing or two about being an overlooked an NBA prospect. Despite being taken sixth overall, very few had predicted he would win Rookie of the Year in the same class as New Orleans Pelicans superstar big man Anthony Davis.

That said, it should come as no surprise who he picked as his favorite rookie from the 2017-18 NBA season. During a recent Q&A with his followers on Twitter, Lillard chose none other than Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell:

https://twitter.com/basilhashimi/status/948444019654262784

After being taken with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Mitchell has suddenly emerged as a prime darkhorse candidate to win this season's ROTY. In a rookie class were Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball and Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons were dubbed as the heavy favorites to run away with the award, Mitchell has established himself as perhaps the most electrifying of them all.

The former Louisville product ended the year with a bang by averaging 23.1 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in December. Needless to say, he has been the lone bright spot in an otherwise floundering Jazz team. As a result, it seems Mitchell has already earned Lillard's favorite rookie.