The Utah Jazz have been on a roll, winning seven straight games, including their 129-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday. The Jazz have been able to keep in step with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers near the top of the Western Conference, and guard Donovan Mitchell is a big reason why.
So when Shaquille O’Neal told Mitchell during an interview after their latest win that he doesn't have what it takes to get to the next level, the 24-year-old Jazz superstar had a short but pointed response to the Big Diesel.
Donovan's response when Shaq tells him he doesn't have what it takes to get to the next level:
"Aight." pic.twitter.com/t64PxpeTFD
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 22, 2021
Even if Shaq began his comment by saying that Mitchell is one of his favorite players, he proceeded with a blunt criticism of his game, which the Louisville product didn’t totally appreciate. The NBA legend is no stranger to making controversial remarks, with the most recent being his take on James Harden's departure from the Houston Rockets to join the Brooklyn Nets.
But instead of engaging the four-time NBA champion, Mitchell seems more inclined to use the slander as motivation to improve. Mitchell said he has been hearing similar comments since he entered the NBA as the 13th overall pick in 2017 and he has been proving people wrong since. He was selected to his first All-Star Game last season and continues to lead the 11-4 Jazz in his fourth season.
Against the Pelicans, Donovan Mitchell finished with a game-high 36 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including a sick ankle-breaker, while adding seven rebounds and five assists. He’ll have a chance to continue proving Shaq wrong when the Jazz look for their eighth straight win against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
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