Woj: Jazz's Donovan Mitchell Won't Play for Team USA at Tokyo Olympics Due to Injury
Jun 21, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 18: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the LA Clippers during Round 2, Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 18, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell reportedly will be skipping this summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Mitchell is declining his invitation to join Team USA and "will use the time to recover and rehab from his right ankle injury."
Stephen Curry also reportedly is opting out of the Summer Games, per Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Curry and Mitchell join LeBron James and Anthony Davis as high-profile stars skipping the event.
Don't feel too bad for Team USA, though. As Marc Stein of the New York Times noted, Damian Lillard, Draymond Green, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bam Adebayo and James Harden have reportedly committed to the team.
Those eight players alone make the Americans the heavy favorites in Japan, with four roster spots left to fill.
A healthy Mitchell would have been exciting to watch at the Summer Games. The 24-year-old averaged career highs in points (26.4 PPG), assists (5.2 APG) and three-point percentage (38.6 percent) this season, shooting 43.8 percent from the field while adding 4.4 rebounds and a steal per contest.
He helped lead the Jazz to a 52-20 record, the best mark in the NBA, though injuries to him and Mike Conley hurt Utah in the Western Conference Semifinals, where the Los Angeles Clippers eliminated them in six games.
There will be future Olympics appearances for Mitchell. He's emerged as one of the NBA's most dangerous perimeter shot-makers.
Joe Ingles to Play for Team Australia in 2021 Olympics After Jazz's Loss to Clippers
Jun 20, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Joe Ingles warms up before Game 5 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz guard Joe Ingles will play for the Australian men's basketball team at the 2021 Summer Olympics.
Ingles has been a fixture for Team Australia since 2008. His breakout on the international stage came at the 2009 FIBA Oceania Championship, scoring 19.5 points per game to help lead Australia to a silver medal. His stellar effort in the 2012 Summer Olympics helped pave the way for him joining the Jazz in 2014.
Australia has won the 2011 and 2013 Oceania Championships while adding the 2009 silver with Ingles on the squad.
The program has been in the midst of an ascent in recent seasons, finishing fourth at the 2016 Olympics and 2019 World Cup.
Ingles will be a critical part of the country's hopes to land its first Olympic medal.
Several NBA players have opted to not play in the 2021 Summer Games due to the NBA's condensed schedule this season and shortened offseason this summer. However, this is likely Ingles' last shot at an Olympic medal, so it's little surprise he wants to be on the floor.
Rudy Gobert: 'There's a Lot of Things That Bother Me' About Jazz's Loss to Clippers
Jun 19, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 18: Rajon Rondo #4 of the Los Angeles Clippers scores a basket against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz during the first half in Game Six of the Western Conference second-round playoff series at Staples Center on June 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz were eliminated from the postseason Friday night after losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals 131-119.
And Rudy Gobert isn't happy about it:
Rudy Gobert said that he needs to take some time “to clear my mind, because there’s a lot of things that bother me” about how the season ended.
Rudy Gobert: "Obviously we had higher expectations than losing in the second round. Losing 4 in a row is something we didn't do during the season. … You try to ask yourself the right questions about what we can do so it stops happening."
There wasn't much to like for the Jazz after losing four straight to the Clippers, especially considering L.A. was without superstar Kawhi Leonard for the last two games of the series.
The Clippers went small against Utah, taking advantage of their mediocre perimeter defenders and forcing Gobert to choose between guarding the perimeter and hovering near the basket.
Rudy, on the dfense: "The problem is if I don't come and help, we give up layups. … The gameplan was for us to let Terance Mann shoot rather than letting Reggie Jackson or PG get layups. We tried to adjust with full rotations. They played perfectly on almost every possession."
Rudy, on what the Jazz need defensively: "It takes a team effort, it takes five guys to defend. … Everyone on their team raised their level, and it was hard for us to guard them. … Defensively, they were doing a better job than we did with the weapons they had."
The result? Gobert was a game-worst minus-24 in Game 6, minus-26 for the series and minus-45 in the four losses.
In other words, the Clippers put him in the proverbial blender. And now Utah—which hasn't gotten past the second round of the playoffs since the 2006-07 season—is going to have to take a long, hard look at its roster construction.
Jazz's Mike Conley on Free Agency: 'I Did Love It Here and We'll See What Happens'
Jun 19, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley brings the ball up court during the second half of Game 1 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Coming off a season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night in the Western Conference semifinals, Mike Conley Jr.'s future is one of the key storylines for the Utah Jazz this summer.
Speaking to reporters Saturday, Conley addressed his impending free agency.
“Obviously I can’t speak, look into the future what exactly will happen,” he said. “It’s actually like my first time being a real free agent, so it’ll be interesting, but I did love it here and we’ll see what happens.”
Expectations were high for the Jazz heading into the postseason. They posted the NBA's best record (52-20), net rating (+9.3) and set a new league record for most three-pointers made per game (16.7) during the regular season.
It looked like Utah was going to carry that success into the playoffs after winning six straight games following a Game 1 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.
The Clippers reeled off four consecutive wins after falling behind 2-0, including a 131-119 victory in Game 6 after trailing by as many as 25 points early in the third quarter.
Conley made his first appearance in the series in Game 6. He missed the previous five games with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old scored five points on 1-of-8 shooting and committed six turnovers in 26 minutes.
Utah already has $133.3 million in salary commitments for next season with Conley set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Conley was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career in 2020-21. He averaged 16.2 points on 41.2 percent three-point shooting, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 51 starts during the regular season.
Jazz's Donovan Mitchell: Game 6 Loss to Clippers 'Gonna Eat at Me for a Long Time'
Jun 19, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 18: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the LA Clippers during Round 2, Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 18, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
A disappointed Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell gave his thoughts on his team's second-round playoff exit after falling to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 on Friday.
Per Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune, Mitchell said: "It hasn't fully sunk in for me yet. I'm still in shock. … I don't know what I'm going to be doing next week. Probably watching the games, mad as hell. This hurts more than last year. This is gonna eat at me for a long time."
Utah blew a 2-0 series lead and it also blew a 22-point halftime lead Friday in what ended up being a 131-119 defeat.
Mitchell had a huge Game 6 with 39 points, nine rebounds and nine assists on 12-of-27 shooting (9-of-15 from three) despite being questionable with an ankle injury.
The ailment cost him the final 16 games of the regular season and Game 1 of Utah's first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. While Mitchell returned and played well, the injury bothered him throughout the postseason.
Per Walden, he said: "It f--king hurt. Just tried to play through it. … I was just trying to find a way, by any means necessary. … But now we're going home. I'm still not mentally ready for this. We fought hard."
Although the Clippers won Games 3 and 4 at home to even the series, the Jazz were in a great spot entering Game 5, as Kawhi Leonard was ruled out for that game and potentially the remainder of the series with a knee injury.
Mitchell and the Jazz were unable to take advantage, though, as Paul George delivered a game-high 37 points, and a more unlikely hero emerged in Game 6.
Terance Mann, who came off the bench for much of the season with L.A., exploded for 39 points on 15-of-21 shooting from the floor and 7-of-10 shooting from three. George added 28 points, and Reggie Jackson had 27.
Meanwhile, the second-leading scorers on the Jazz were Jordan Clarkson and Royce O'Neale with 21 points each.
The Jazz got starting point guard Mike Conley back Friday after he missed the first five games of the series with a hamstring injury, but he went just 1-of-8 from the floor and finished with five points, three assists and two rebounds with six turnovers in 26 minutes.
At 52-20, the Jazz had the best record in the NBA this season, and falling short of the Finals in a wide-open Western Conference will be considered a disappointment. Versus the Clippers, they had both the series and then Game 6 well in hand before falling short.
Now, the Clippers and Phoenix Suns will square off in the Western Conference Finals.
Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley Cleared to Play for Jazz vs. Clippers in Game 6
Jun 18, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley warms up before Game 5 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley will make his first appearance of the Western Conference semifinals on Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Conley, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, was cleared to play less than an hour before tipoff.
Donovan Mitchell was also cleared to play despite a lingering ankle injury.
The hamstring issue caused Conley to miss Utah's first five games in the Western Conference semifinals against the Clippers. He originally suffered the injury late in the regular season and reaggravated it in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mitchell said after the Jazz's Game 5 loss to the Clippers that his ankle is still causing problems after originally spraining it on April 16.
The Jazz have lost three straight games to the Clippers after winning the first two games of the series. Their defense is allowing 123 points per game since Game 3, and they will look to stave off elimination at the Staples Center on Friday night.
Conley led the Jazz with six assists per game during the regular season. He also averaged 16.2 points per game on 41.2 percent three-point shooting.
Now that Conley is back, he will be the primary ballhandler for head coach Quin Snyder and provide Mitchell with his usual partner in crime in the backcourt.
Donovan Mitchell on Ankle Injury: 'It F--king Sucks, I Ain't Got Nothing Else to Say'
Jun 17, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell rolls on the court after being fouled by Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George during the second half of Game 2 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Thursday, June 10, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell discussed his ankle injury and how it has impacted him following Wednesday night's 119-111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series.
"It's something I'm going to have to deal with. I mean, it f--king sucks. I ain't got nothing else to say. Like, it's tough when you're trying different things that you normally do and you see spots you can get to, but you can't, so you got to find a way to make it happen.
"It's tough, but I got to find a way. Otherwise, I'm going to be home. And I said it last year ... and I said during the year, we didn't do all this to lose in the second round, so we got to figure it the f--k out. Otherwise, that's it. Excuse my language."
The 24-year-old has dealt with an ankle injury for the past few months, causing him to miss the final 16 games of the regular season and the first game of Utah's first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The issue returned during the second-round series against the Clippers, with Mitchell in apparent pain late in the Game 2 win. He also left early because of pain in the right ankle in the Game 3 loss but said he would try to play through it.
"It's been just trying to manage it," he told reporters. "I don't really know what else to tell you; I don't want to say too much. It was just the landing, but I'm good. I'll be ready for Game 4."
The Louisville product remains an impact player when he is on the court, scoring at least 30 points nearly every night in the playoffs. He turned heads with his 45-point effort in the Game 1 win over Los Angeles.
Mitchell struggled mightily in Wednesday's loss, though, going just 6-of-19 from the field and 4-of-14 from beyond the arc and finishing with 21 points, five assists and five rebounds.
With Mitchell playing well below expectations, the Jazz fell to the Clippers in Game 5 despite the fact that L.A. was playing without injured star Kawhi Leonard. Now, the Clippers hold a 3-2 series lead.
Mitchell averaged 26.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game during the regular season on the way to his second All-Star selection. He was the clear go-to option offensively for a team that produced the best record in the NBA (52-20), and his health is a major storyline as the Jazz look to contend for a title.
If the ankle injury continues to nag Mitchell moving forward, the Jazz will need more scoring out of Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson and others in Game 6 and beyond should Utah manage to win Friday's do-or-die game.
Paul George Drops 37 as Clippers Win Crucial Game 5 over Donovan Mitchell, Jazz
Jun 17, 2021
Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George (13) flexes his muscles after scoring against the Utah Jazz during the first half of Game 5 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Los Angeles Clippers are one win away from advancing past what has turned into a battle of attrition.
Los Angeles took a 3-2 lead in its second-round series against the Utah Jazz with a 119-111 victory in Wednesday's Game 5 at Vivint Arena. Paul George, Marcus Morris Sr. and Reggie Jackson led the way in the winning effort and helped make up for the loss of star Kawhi Leonard, who was sidelined with a knee injury.
Notable showings from Bojan Bogdanovic and Donovan Mitchell weren't enough for the Jazz, who have been without point guard Mike Conley (hamstring) throughout the series.
Notable Player Stats
Paul George, G, LAC: 37 PTS, 16 REB, 5 AST, 2 BLK
Marcus Morris Sr., F, LAC: 25 PTS
Reggie Jackson, G, LAC: 22 PTS, 3 AST, 2 STL
Donovan Mitchell, G, UTA: 21 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST
Bojan Bogdanovic, F, UTA: 32 PTS, 9-of-17 3PT
Paul George Leads Balanced Effort for Shorthanded Clippers
Not since his Indiana Pacers days has there been so much individual pressure on George to carry his team in a critical moment as the unquestioned go-to option.
Without Leonard, Los Angeles needed George to be the two-way superstar who can do a little bit of everything. That was especially the case on the road, and he wasted no time responding by aggressively attacking the basket and battling for boards even against taller frontcourt players.
The result was 22 points in the first half for the seven-time All-Star, which helped keep the Clippers well within striking distance despite red-hot shooting from the Jazz.
The visitors took over during the third quarter to build a double-digit lead. George continued to pick his spots without forcing the issue, and Morris provided important secondary scoring when Utah collapsed on George.
It was Jackson's turn to be the secondary playmaker in the fourth quarter, as he hit multiple outside shots and then assisted on a Nicolas Batum three to answer a Utah burst, pushing the lead back to double digits. He did it again after the Jazz closed to within three with a corner triple and drive right at Rudy Gobert to create more breathing room.
Throw in a monster dunk over Gobert by Terance Mann in crunch time, and a number of Clippers contributed with the game hanging in the balance.
Yet it was George who connected on an and-1 jumper from the elbow in the final two minutes to answer one more challenge by the Jazz. He also led all players in rebounding and, at least for one night, emphatically answered any lingering questions from last year's second-round loss regarding his ability to deliver when it matters most.
Jazz Fall Apart in Second Half
This was a golden opportunity the Jazz likely had to take advantage of if they are going to deliver on their championship hopes.
After all, they had the home-court advantage they earned during the regular season by going 31-5 at Vivint Arena. Los Angeles also didn't have its two-time NBA Finals MVP leading the way, which was probably an even bigger absence than Conley's.
Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson had a sense of the moment right from the start and combined for 11 three-pointers in the first half alone. It was the exact spark the team needed, especially after the Jazz struggled to generate enough offense outside of Mitchell until it was too late in Game 4.
Utah didn't make a single three-pointer in the third quarter as it fell behind by double digits. Mitchell also wasn't the dominant force he was during the first four games of this series, which seemingly left the Jazz grasping for straws offensively. Were it not for Rudy Gobert's offensive rebounding, the No. 1 seed may have fallen completely out of the game before the fourth.
Frankly, the Jazz were fighting an uphill battle throughout the game with Mitchell just a step slower with the ball in his hands. They failed to build sustained momentum, as every small push seemed to end with a missed three or failed defensive possession.
All hope is not lost for the No. 1 seed considering the Clippers still might not have Leonard as they attempt to close the series out, but the abysmal second half in Game 5 will linger for Utah if it doesn't win two straight.
What's Next?
The series returns to Los Angeles for Friday's Game 6.
Jazz's Mike Conley Out for Game 5 vs. Clippers Because of Hamstring Injury
Jun 16, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley stands on the court before Game 1 of the team's second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Salt Lake City. Conley suffered a mild right hamstring strain in Game 5 against the Grizzlies, and he has been ruled out of Tuesday night's game. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley will miss his fifth straight game because of a hamstring injury.
The team announced that Conley won't play in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
Each of the first four games in this series has been won by the home team. The Jazz took a 2-0 lead before heading to Los Angeles.
The Clippers have won the last two games by an average of 20 points, but they will have a different look for at least Game 5.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Kawhi Leonard will be out indefinitely with what the Clippers fear is an ACL injury.
Conley controls the pace for the team that finished with the best record in the NBA and posted 16.2 points, 6.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game behind 44.4 percent shooting from the field and 41.2 percent shooting from three-point range.
While the Jazz will miss his presence and ability to shoot from the outside and facilitate for teammates if he is sidelined, they are also accustomed to playing without him.
Look for Donovan Mitchell, Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles to continue taking on the bulk of the ball-handling responsibilities in Conley's absence.
The Jazz will host the Clippers in Game 5 at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday night.
Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell Miss $33M Contract Bonus After All-NBA Team Snub
Jun 16, 2021
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dunks against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of Game 4 during an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 30, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell were not named to the All-NBA teams, which were announced on Tuesday.
Those snubs will prevent each player from potentially earning an additional $33 million, as noted by ESPN's Bobby Marks:
The Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell rookie max extension will stay at 25% of the cap in 2021-22.
Both were eligible to receive an additional $33M if named All-NBA.
Mitchell and Tatum both began their NBA careers in 2017.
Tatum and Mitchell both made the All-Star Game for the second consecutive year. Tatum finished the regular season with a career-high 26.4 points on 45.9 percent shooting, 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
Mitchell also had a career-high 26.4 points en route to helping lead the NBA-best Utah Jazz to a 52-20 record. He added a career-high 5.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds as well.
At the same time, there were plenty of excellent individual performances this year, including a breakout season from New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (Second Team), an NBA MVP-winning campaign via Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic (First Team), and an incredible comeback season from Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (First Team), who led the NBA in scoring after missing nearly all of 2019-20 due to injury.
Still, Tatum and Mitchell were excellent in their own right and very easily could have snuck onto the All-NBA Team.
Although they missed out on some more money, they're still locked up long-term thanks to some fat second contracts with their current teams. Both signed five-year dealsworth up to $195 million.
Tatum's Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. Mitchell's Jazz are tied with the Los Angeles Clippers at two games apiece in their Western Conference second-round playoff series.
