Although in the midst of only his second season atop the highest level, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has already become quite the leader out West. As a result, Mitchell is often the voice of the team when it comes to speaking to the media with the up-and-coming guard most recently praising one of his Jazz teammates.

When asked about Utah rookie and fellow guard, Grayson Allen, Mitchell was not shy with his praise while the former Louisville standout even offered some advice.

“His defense has improved tremendously since the beginning of the year. And that was really the big thing, for him to improve that. He’s made dramatic steps in that. Now it’s just a matter of getting reps,” said Mitchell, via Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune. “His time will definitely come. … Shots will come and go, but the fact that his defense has picked up the way it has is really, really special. That’s been my message to him — stay with it; it’s not just all gonna come at the same time, it’ll be different pieces and different parts, and then at one time, it’ll all build for you.”

Allen was not shy about his progress as an NBA player, either.

“I feel like I’m getting better,” Allen told the aforementioned Walden. “I can’t tell you one specific thing I need to work on; I think it’s a lot of different areas, and just finding my comfort out there on both ends of the floor — and that just comes from playing more.”

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