Last season provided one of the most compelling Rookie of the Year races in recent memory. It was a three-man race between Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum. All three guys established themselves as future stars of the league, and what made them even more impressive was they all were part of playoff teams.
While Simmons wound up winning the award, Mitchell and Tatum were very much in the thick of things. This season, both of them are continuing to be vital vogs for their respective teams. Mitchell is averaging 21.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Utah Jazz, while Tatum is averaging 15.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Boston Celtics.
They seem to have a great relationship off the court as well. In an interview with Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, Mitchell talked about how the two of them help each other improve:
“I talk to him all the time,” said Donovan Mitchell. “We talked after the last time we played (last Friday in Salt Lake City), and then he went out and had 27 (the next game in Portland). We talk about little things we see that can help each other be more efficient.”
“This game isn’t a given,” added Mitchell. “Jayson and I are a lot alike in the way we look at the game, but he was a one-and-done. I stayed in school (Louisville) for two years, so our paths are a little different, but our work ethic’s the same.
As long as they keep pushing each other the way they are right now, the sky is the limit for these two young stars.
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