Although the 2017-18 NBA season came to an end for the Utah Jazz, there is still plenty to be optimistic about moving forward. At the forefront of their success was shooting guard Donovan Mitchell.

Even the most optimistic Jazz fan would have had a hard time predicting they would play so well this season. As a result, there has been plenty of speculation regarding the method to their madness.

Mitchell said via Jazz Twitter that their success can be attributed to the bond they developed throughout the year:

“Our team is selfless—that's the word I continue to use. We love each other, and I mean LOVE each other. We have each other's backs.”

Utah had been stunned by the departure of star forward Gordon Hayward in free agency following last year's playoff run. The consensus was that the Jazz would have to go back to the drawing board to initiate the early stages of a rebuild. However, that all changed with the selection of Mitchell with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Not only did they manage to regroup from the loss of Hayward, but they actually achieved more playoff success then they did last year. Mitchell led Utah to a 48-34 finish, which was good for the fifth seed in the formidable Western Conference while making a legitimate case to take home the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. More importantly, he is beloved by his teammates and has made it a point to bond with them as much as possible moving forward.