Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell took the NBA by storm this season as the 13th overall pick arguably gave the 2016 first overall selection Ben Simmons a run for his money in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
Yet, that surprise factor is exactly what he expects will help him surpass Simmons in the voting for the much-coveted award.
“What I have done this season is a little different than most people,” Donovan Mitchell told EuroHoops when asked why he should be the Rookie of the Year, “And the biggest thing that helps me is that no one expected it, I didn’t expect it. So the element of “surprise” will be on my side.”
Mitchell has certainly been an impressive talent to behold in what was meant to be a talent-infused freshman class, but he also has surpassed the franchise's expectations after garnering his services following a draft night trade with the Denver Nuggets.
The Louisville product took over Rodney Hood's starting shooting guard spot early in the season, and it didn't take long until his stroke flourished into becoming the team's leading scorer.
Donovan Mitchell posted 20.5 points per game in his first season in the league, becoming the first rookie since Carmelo Anthony to surpass the 20-point scoring mark while leading his team to the playoffs.
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