Donovan Mitchell has stood out among other rookies, perhaps as the most NBA-ready scorer with the potential of being a perennial 20-points-a-night staple in the league.
But a scorer isn't only shaped with the right mentality and the right set of offensive tools, but also the attention to detail to hone the craft and willingness to make the right adjustments.
Mitchell has worked tirelessly in personal film sessions with coach Quin Snyder and assistant Johnnie Bryant, both who have picked apart his every mistake since being named as the starting shooting guard 13 games into his NBA career.
“You got to the corner,” Bryant said to Mitchell, pointing out to Mitchell's catch-and-shoot three in transition was included among the few dozen plays worth reviewed from an earlier loss to the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. “You didn't stop at the break. How many clips have you seen that this year?”
Bryant and Snyder have emphasized Mitchell to take more corner threes — a distance-friendly shot that has proven 48.5 percent effective for the rookie shooting guard.
Mitchell is more comfortable with taking three above the break, especially on the wings, where he did most of his damage in Louisville, a habit that has proven hard to break.
“I know this might sound bad, but I hope that he misses those shots at the break,” Bryant said. “So I can be like, ‘The basketball gods are rewarding you for getting to the corner.'”
Yet the 21-year-old has managed to reason and take more corner threes, which has helped him to become the first rookie since Carmelo Anthony to lead a playoff team in points per game with 20.5 per game.
“One thing about him is he's not afraid to try things and really apply it. That's something that's rare. A lot of guys want to stay in their comfort zone.”
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