Jazz's Donovan Mitchell Discusses Mentor Relationship with Dwyane Wade
Jun 2, 2021
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 02: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat greets Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz after the game at American Airlines Arena on December 2, 2018 in Miami, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Dwyane Wade retired in 2019, but he might have some influence on how the 2021 NBA playoffs unfold.
The future Hall of Famer purchased a minority ownership stake in the Utah Jazz in April. Jackie MacMullan of ESPN wrote how he has also forged a relationship with Jazz star Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell told MacMullan he has reached out to Wade for advice, dating back to when Wade invited him to work out after his rookie season in 2017-18 along with a few other younger players around the league.
"On the final day of camp, Mitchell and Wade embraced, and the future Hall of Famer told him, 'Hit me whenever,'" Mitchell said.
"Usually when someone says that you might do it once. But my feeling was, if D-Wade is saying this to me, I'm taking advantage. I call him all the time.
"We had one conversation that was two or three hours long. I hit him with a thousand questions. The one thing I really appreciate about D-Wade was he was as engaged as I was during that conversation. Now that I'm four years in, I understand your most valuable thing is your time—and he gave me the time of day."
MacMullan reported Wade also "played a role in mitigating the tension" when Mitchell became upset about his absence in Utah's Game 1 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps, Mitchell thought he was ready to go after having been out because of a sprained right ankle. Instead he was a late scratch from the lineup.
Per MacMullan, Wade "counseled him to prepare for the long haul and not overreact to a single game."
Wade's guidance seems to have worked for Mitchell, who had a career year in 2020-21. The two-time All-Star averaged 26.4 points and 5.2 assists and shot 38.6 percent from beyond the arc. That followed a 2020 postseason in which he had two 50-plus-point outings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_N2O3uDyN8
Mitchell's efficiency is down in the first round (39.1 percent overall and 33.3 percent on three-pointers), but he has still averaged 28.0 points per game through three appearances.
More importantly, the Jazz are one win away from closing out the series, something they can do Wednesday in Salt Lake City.
To some extent, the outcome of this year's playoffs will be a referendum on Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert. Utah owned the best record in the league (52-20), but questions remain about whether the team is built to thrive at this stage.
Having a legend such as Wade, who won three titles with the Miami Heat, can be an invaluable resource for Mitchell to understand how best to handle that outside skepticism and respond on the court.
Donovan Mitchell, Jazz Beat Ja Morant, Grizzlies in Game 4 to Take 3-1 Series Lead
Jun 1, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots as Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) defends during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. Utah won 121-111. (AP Photo/John Amis)
The Utah Jazz are in full control of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Utah defeated Memphis 120-113 in Monday's Game 4 at FedExForum and pushed its series lead to 3-1. Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson led the way for the victors, who have bounced back from their Game 1 loss with three straight wins.
Solid showings from Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks were not enough for the Grizzlies, who missed an opportunity to put the pressure on the Western Conference's top seed with two successive losses at home.
Notable Player Stats
Donovan Mitchell, G, UTA: 30 PTS, 8 AST, 2 STL
Jordan Clarkson, G, UTA: 24 PTS, 6 REB, 4-of-9 3PT
Rudy Gobert, C, UTA: 17 PTS, 8 REB, 2 BLK
Ja Morant, G, MEM: 23 PTS, 12 AST, 6 REB
Dillon Brooks, F, MEM: 21 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST
Jaren Jackson Jr., F, MEM: 21 PTS, 6 REB
Dominant 3rd Quarter, Balanced Attack Propels Jazz to Win
Game 1 may have been a wake-up call for the Jazz, but the fact that Mitchell wasn't on the floor also made a significant difference.
Utah won Games 2 and 3 by a combined 22 points with its offensive leader back on the floor, and he picked up right where he left off in the early going of Game 4 by hitting from the outside and drawing defenders his way to open up his teammates.
Throw in Mike Conley dishing out assists and the combination of Clarkson and Derrick Favors proving a spark off the bench, and the visitors were in control of a close game by halftime.
It wasn't until the third quarter that the Jazz busted out their offense capable of winning a championship.
Rudy Gobert poured in 13 points in the third after scoring just one in the first half, Mitchell continued to aggressively attack the lane and drew a critical fourth foul on Brooks, and Clarkson put the finishing touches on a 41-point quarter with two triples in the final minute.
As it turns out, the Jazz needed that third quarter just to survive the fourth when they went ice cold from the outside. They didn't even score a field goal in the quarter until Conley bailed them out with a three-pointer with 5:08 remaining. He then turned Morant over before hitting another three, and Bojan Bogdanovic pushed the lead back to double digits with a triple of his own.
Even with the blip in the fourth quarter, the Jazz received contributions from most of their primary playmakers when the outcome was still hanging in the balance. It is that ability to pick each other up that could eventually lead to a championship.
Memphis' Late Push Falls Short
Even if they ultimately lose the series, the future looks bright for the Grizzlies.
Morant has been brilliant against the team with the best record in the league, Brooks has thrived on both ends of the floor, Jaren Jackson Jr. has played well for stretches despite missing most of the season with injury and Jonas Valanciunas has battled with Gobert and the rest of the Utah frontcourt.
It was that foursome that weathered the storm of multiple runs from the Jazz to keep the home team well within striking distance into the second half of Monday's game.
Morant blew past defenders in the open floor and mixed in some spectacular finishes at the rim, Brooks powered his way into the lane, Jackson hit multiple shots from the outside to complement his scoring inside and Valanciunas posted a double-double.
It wasn't just the scoring from Morant that stood out, as the 21-year-old was in full control on the offensive end with his passing and ball-handling ability as well. He dictated the pace even when facing a veteran defender like Conley and helped set up De'Anthony Melton multiple times down the stretch as the USC product provided a lift off the bench.
Melton thrived with 15 points in the fourth quarter alone as the Grizzlies cut a double-digit deficit to as little as two with him hitting from the outside, getting out in transition and carrying the offense.
However, Memphis scored just seven points in the final four minutes after his hot streak, which was too much to overcome in a series with little margin for error.
What's Next?
The series shifts back to Utah for Wednesday's Game 5.
The Philadelphia 76ers are one win away from a first-round sweep of the Washington Wizards thanks to the play of Joel Embiid...
Donovan Mitchell, Jazz Hold off Ja Morant, Grizzlies 121-111 to Win Game 3
May 30, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley (10) shoots as Memphis Grizzlies guard Grayson Allen (3) defends during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and Mike Conley added 27 more as the Utah Jazz took a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies by defeating the hosts 121-111 on Saturday at FedExForum.
The Jazz led by double digits after the first, second and third quarters, but Memphis began the fourth on a 13-2 run to tie the game at 98.
Memphis grabbed a 109-107 lead on a Morant bucket, but Mitchell scored 10 points during a 14-2 Utah run to end the game.
Conley hit seven three-pointers and also dished a team-high eight assists. Rudy Gobert pitched in a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double alongside four blocks.
Morant (28 points, seven assists) and Dillon Brooks (27 points) paced the Grizzlies' offense. Jonas Valanciunas (10 points, 13 rebounds) and Kyle Anderson (11 points, 13 rebounds) added double-doubles.
Utah is now two wins away from reaching the Western Conference semifinals for the third time in five years.
Notable Performances
Jazz G Donovan Mitchell: 29 points, five assists
Jazz G Mike Conley Jr.: 27 points, eight assists, six rebounds
Jazz C Rudy Gobert: 15 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks
Jazz F Bojan Bogdanovic: 15 points, six rebounds
Jazz G Jordan Clarkson: 15 points
Grizzlies PG Ja Morant: 28 points, seven assists
Grizzlies F Kyle Anderson: 11 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals
Grizzlies C Jonas Valanciunas: 10 points, 13 rebounds, five assists
Grizzlies SG Dillon Brooks: 27 points
Grizzlies SG Grayson Allen: 17 points
Conley, Mitchell Lift Jazz
Utah led by 12 points after the first quarter and 11 points following the second and third, but the resilient Grizzlies hung around and tied the game at 98 thanks to six Brooks points, a Kyle Anderson tip-in and five Grayson Allen points (both buckets off Anderson assists).
The Jazz needed to dig deep to rally against a tough, gritty Grizzlies team that had the backing of a loud and vibrant home crowd. Thanks to Conley and Mitchell, they were able to pull through.
Conley drilled a clutch three-pointer, his seventh of the game, for a 103-100 lead:
After Morant answered Conley with a three of his own, the Jazz point guard fired back with a 10-foot floater.
Four straight Grizzlies points gave Memphis the 107-105 lead, but Conley then found Gobert for an alley-oop dunk and a 107-all tie.
Conley was the best and most consistent Utah player on the floor, and Sarah Todd of the Deseret News pointed out his importance as the point guard dominated the opposition:
And Sam Vecenie of The Athletic shouted him out too:
I’ve admittedly only been partially paying attention to Utah-Memphis, but every time I look up I’m just blown away by how Mike Conley dictated this game in pick and roll. Especially the last six minutes. Every right decision as a passer. The early 3s. Just a superb game.
From that point on, it was all Mitchell as he destroyed the Memphis defense and led the Jazz to the 10-point win.
Mitchell soon hit the biggest bucket of the game courtesy of a three-pointer over Anderson for the 113-109 advantage:
🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶how many chara pic.twitter.com/m537by7ZN0
After Conley found Gobert for another bucket, Mitchell went back at it, drawing a pair of fouls and hitting 4-of-5 free throws.
That salted the game away for the Jazz as it withstood a furious fight from the Grizzlies, which have had a reputation over the years for being a tough, blue-collar team that's hard to put away.
Conley, who played in Memphis for the first 12 years of his career, was a fixture on some of those teams. In the end, his own grit and grind—coupled with Mitchell's bucket-making—put Utah in the series lead.
Resilient Grizzlies Fight Until the End, But Early Hole Too Much To Overcome
Memphis never let Utah run away with this game even though it looked like the Jazz's three-point barrage could do just that.
The fact that the Grizzlies took the lead multiple times in the fourth quarter showcases this team's heart and perseverance in the face of adversity.
They clearly take after the relentlessness of their star point guard in Morant, who is well on his way to being an All-NBA player and postseason fixture for years. He's already put himself in great company:
Ja Morant has scored 101 points in his first three career playoff games, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and George Mikan as the only players in NBA History with 100+ points in their first three postseason games. pic.twitter.com/l67In1VLlv
The end of the fourth quarter did not go their way as Mitchell simply took over while Memphis went cold from the field, but the issue Saturday was deeper than that, as Evan Barnes of the Memphis Commercial Appeal tweeted and Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned after the game:
Taylor Jenkins continues to go back how the first Q let the Grizzlies down
Grizzlies trailed by 12 after one. They lost by 11.
I've said it all game. Do the math and this loss is easy to figure out. Add in the Jazz making 19 3s compared to the Grizzlies' 13.
Utah won this game despite getting outscoring Memphis in just one quarter. The problem for the Grizzlies, though, was that one quarter ended with the Jazz up 34-22 after 12 minutes.
Cassie Carlson of WMC Action News 5 relayed another problem that Jenkins mentioned:
Taylor Jenkins: Jazz made the plays down the stretch. First quarter Grizzlies didn't have the discipline.
The defense clearly did not fare well in those 12 minutes, as seven Jazz three-pointers proved to be the difference in Utah giving itself some breathing room. Royce O'Neale hit three of them.
Utah ultimately went 19-of-43 from three, and Memphis shot 13-of-41. As Barnes noted, it's not hard to see why the Grizzlies lost. They simply couldn't match Utah's firepower from deep, as most evidenced by a fantastic first quarter.
What's Next?
Memphis will host Utah for Game 4 on Monday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Donovan Mitchell Talks Jazz Fan Reputations, Potential Impact on Adding Free Agents
May 29, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) goes to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) watches during the second half of Game 2 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell addressed reporters Friday in the aftermath of the verbal abuse Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant's family endured during Utah's home playoff win over Memphis on Wednesday in Salt Lake City's Vivint Arena.
ESPN's Nick Friedell relayed Mitchell's remarks, which touched on the reputation of Jazz fans and how they're perceived by other players across the league:
"There's a rep, let's call a spade a spade. There is a rep that this happens solely here and as we've seen there's incidents that happen everywhere ... I don't know, but I don't think it will necessarily have an impact on guys' decisions, whether they want to come here or not."
"It's beyond unfortunate and it needs to change. It happened here. Trae got spit on in New York, Russ getting popcorn thrown at him, and we obviously hear what's going on in Boston too. Enough is enough, man.I feel like banning them is great but I don't think they should be back"
Tee Morant, Ja's father, spoke with ESPN's Tim MacMahon about what he and his wife, Jamie, experienced.
"Tee Morant said one fan made a sexually explicit remark to his wife, Jamie. Tee Morant, who was sitting a couple of seats over, confronted the man before security deescalated the situation, ejecting the Jazz fan.
"According to Tee Morant, another Jazz fan told him, 'I'll put a nickel in your back and watch you dance, boy.' Several other Jazz fans, who had been enjoying good-spirited trash talk with the Morants and their family friends, confronted that fan and alerted security. Tee Morant said he was shocked that the Jazz fan, who was ejected, made such a comment with the man's young daughter by his side.
"The third fan who was ejected yelled at Jamie Morant, 'Shut the f--k up, b---h,' Tee Morant said."
As Mitchell referenced, NBA stars have been subjected to bad fan behavior. A fan threw popcorn on Washington Wizards point guard Russell Westbrook in Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center, and another spit on Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young in New York's Madison Square Garden.
Multiple Jazz fans have received lifetime bans from Vivint Arena for verbal abuse hurled at Westbrook when he was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Mitchell also tweeted about the incidents involving the Morants following the matchup, which Utah won 141-129 to knot the Western Conference first-round series at one game apiece.
I’m glad those fans were banned and they should never be allowed back.... this is ridiculous!!! The fact that these words are being thrown around to players and there families is ridiculous! Enough is enough smh! https://t.co/rfzj0T1W1r
The three fans implicated in making derogatory comments toward Morant's family have been banned from Vivint Arena for life.
Donovan Mitchell Calls Ja Morant 'A Hell of a Player' After Grizzlies Star Drops 47
May 27, 2021
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MAY 26: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives around Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 26, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was
impressed with Memphis Grizzlies counterpart Ja Morant after Game 2
of the teams' first-round playoff series Wednesday night, calling him "a hell of a player" and saying he respects "the hell out of
his game."
Morant scored 47 points, but it wasn't
quite enough as the Jazz earned a 141-129 win to level the series at
one game apiece:
“Give credit to Ja, he had 50 damn near.”
Spida gives Ja Morant his flowers after dropping 47 🤝
Mitchell, who returned from a five-week absence caused by an ankle sprain, scored 25 points to pace the
Jazz, who shot 54.4 percent from the field and knocked down 19 threes
in the high-scoring victory.
Morant added seven assists and four
rebounds on top of his 47-point effort, but he wasn't in a
celebratory mood despite the standout performance.
"We lost," he told reporters.
"Obviously it wasn't enough."
Perhaps most impressive was the fact
most of his points came while attacking the paint, which is being
protected in this series by Jazz center Rudy Gobert, the likely NBA
Defensive Player of the Year.
"I'm not afraid," Morant
said. "I mean, that's his job: to protect the rim. My job when
I'm attacking the rim is to go finish. Obviously, he got a good
block, but as you seen, I was right back inside the paint."
Gobert, who's 7'1'', held a similar
view about his frequent showdowns with the 6'3'' Morant.
"It's what it's about," he
said. "Sometimes I'm going to get dunked on and sometimes I'm
going to get the block. I'm not going to stop coming and doing what I
do. It's the same for him. Hopefully, he doesn't stop coming. I'm
still going to be there every time. That's just the competitive
spirit. I know Ja has that, but I have that, too."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsF2aVNCgBw
It will be a fascinating matchup
throughout the series, and one of the biggest challenges for the Jazz
as a whole will be trying to defend the 2020 Rookie of the Year
without fouling. He went to the free-throw line 20 times in Game 2.
The series now shifts to the FedEx
Forum in Memphis for the next two contests. Game 3 is scheduled for
Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Donovan Mitchell, Jazz Beat Grizzlies in Game 2 Despite Ja Morant's 47 Points
May 27, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) goes to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson (1) defends during the first half of Game 2 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Things are back on track for the Western Conference's top seed.
Donovan Mitchell returned for the first time since April 16 and helped lead the Utah Jazz to a 141-129 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert and Mitchell led the way for the Jazz, who bounced back from their initial loss to tie the series at a game apiece.
An incredible showing from Ja Morant was not enough for the Grizzlies, who still have home-court advantage after splitting the first two in Utah.
Notable Player Stats
Donovan Mitchell, G, UTA: 25 PTS, 5-of-10 3PT
Mike Conley, G, UTA: 20 PTS, 15 AST, 4 REB
Rudy Gobert, C, UTA: 21 PTS, 13 REB, 4 BLK, 3 AST
Ja Morant, G, MEM: 47 PTS, 7 AST, 4 REB
Dillon Brooks, F, MEM: 23 PTS
Mitchell Returns as Balanced Jazz Attack Overwhelms Memphis
The biggest storyline coming into Wednesday's game was the return of Mitchell, especially given how upset he was that Utah's training staff said he couldn't play in Game 1.
His presence helps beyond his own scoring because it opens up looks for everyone else when defenders collapse on him. That was much needed considering Utah's offense bogged down outside of Bojan Bogdanovic's late push in Game 1.
Utah jumped out to a commanding lead in the first half with Mitchell draining shots from beyond the arc, Bogdanovic remaining aggressive and Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarkson providing their typical production off the bench. Throw in Gobert controlling the boards and protecting the rim, and the Jazz seemed to be in full control.
And then the defense collapsed in the third quarter.
Memphis cut the lead to as little as two with a dominant quarter, putting the pressure firmly on Utah's side. It didn't help that Mitchell went back to the tunnel for a stretch in the fourth, although Conley made sure his team didn't fall into a daunting 2-0 hole.
The veteran point guard fed Gobert for multiple dunks on pick-and-rolls, found Georges Niang and Royce O'Neale for critical three-pointers and mixed in his own floater and three-pointer. Just like that, the lead was back to double digits as seven players finished in double figures in a much-needed balanced offensive performance for a Jazz squad that connected on 19 triples.
Ja Morant Unstoppable Even in Defeat
By playoff standards, there wasn't much pressure on the Grizzlies in Wednesday's game.
After all, they already stole home-court advantage in Game 1 and have already surpassed expectations given their performance during the play-in tournament. That was the only initial good news for Memphis because Game 2 started in brutal fashion with Dillon Brooks, Jonas Valanciunas and Jaren Jackson Jr. all going to the bench with foul trouble in the first half.
Even with Morant carving up Utah's defense in the lane as the best player on the floor for extended stretches, the visitors still trailed by 20 at the half after being forced to rely so much on their bench.
.@JaMorant has scored 71 points in his first two career playoff games, the most since the NBL merged with the BAA before the 1949-50 season to create the @NBA. pic.twitter.com/ovreS1etj1
It would have been easy for the Grizzlies to pack it in and start focusing on their return home with a split. Instead, they came out on fire and poured in 43 points in the third quarter alone with Morant continuing his brilliance and the Brooks and Valanciunas combination back on the floor.
Brooks in particular brought a spark by powering his way through the lane as a threat on the wing while Morant unleashed his array of floaters and dazzling finishes.
Utah ultimately had too much firepower with so many players contributing, but Morant continued to impress by fearlessly attacking the basket even when Gobert was in the paint. It was the second career playoff game for the 21-year-old, but he looked like a 10-year veteran while trying to keep his team within striking distance.
The future is bright for Memphis with Morant leading the way, even if Utah was the better team Wednesday.
What's Next?
The series shifts to Memphis for Game 3 on Saturday.
Three NBA playoff games are on tap for Wednesday. The top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers will kick the night off by hosting the No. 8 seed Washington Wizards at 7 p.m. ET in the Eastern Conference bracket...
Windhorst: Donovan Mitchell's Relationship with Jazz 'Damaged' After Being Held Out
May 25, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell warms up before the start of their NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell's relationship with the Utah Jazz is reportedly in a bad place after the team decided to hold him out of Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies.
On Tuesday's episode of Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst said the following about where Mitchell and the Jazz stand (beginning at the 16:05 mark):
"I will tell you this, Donovan's relationship with the organization was damaged this week. Is it damaged to the point where it can't be repaired? I'm not saying that. Is it something that they'll get past and he will just move on and it'll be just a blip on the radar screen? Maybe. Maybe they're in the Finals in two months and who cares? Maybe they win the next four games and it's totally forgotten, OK. But right now, Donovan is hurting. He's really hurting the way this happened."
Windhorst's comments came on the heels of Mitchell saying Monday that he was "definitely frustrated and upset" by the team's decision to make him a late scratch before Game 1 due to an ankle injury.
Utah, which posted the NBA's best record this season, went on to lose Game 1 by a score of 112-109 without Mitchell in the lineup.
Per Windhorst and ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Mitchell has been out since April 16 with the injury and began rehabbing with his own personal training staff after the early stages of his recovery moved slowly.
Mitchell said he felt he was "ready to go" for Game 1 and expressed his belief that he "should have played."
The 24-year-old Mitchell added that his frustration and anger stemmed from feeling like he let his teammates down, although it was ultimately the Jazz's medical staff that had the final say.
Mitchell has progressively gotten better for the Jazz since his rookie season in 2017-18.
He has been named an All-Star in each of the past two seasons and set new career highs this season with 26.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Thanks to Mitchell, center Rudy Gobert and a remarkable amount of depth across the board, the Jazz went 52-20 this season, and their .722 winning percentage was their best since going 37-13 in 1998-99.
As referenced by Windhorst, Mitchell and the Jazz could potentially get back on the same page quickly if they go on to win the first-round series against Memphis, but if they lose, there may be a ton of second guessing regarding the medical staff's decision.
Per Spotrac, Mitchell signed a five-year, $163 million contract extension with the Jazz last year, meaning he is under contract through at least the 2024-25 season and has a player option for 2025-26.
Because of that, the Jazz would be under no pressure or obligation to trade Mitchell even if he is disgruntled with the organization.
That means it would behoove both sides to hash things out and come to an understanding, as all signs point to them working together for many years to come.
Donovan Mitchell Was 'Frustrated and Upset' to Miss Game 1: 'We Got S--t to Handle'
May 24, 2021
Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell, right, speaks with teammate Rudy Gobert (27) after he fouls out 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)
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell was not happy he missed his team's 112-109 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in Sunday's Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series.
"I was frustrated and upset," he told reporters. "I was ready to go. I was ready to go. ... The biggest thing is moving forward. We got s--t to handle. I understand you've got questions to ask."
Mitchell continued and explained it wasn't his decision to sit out.
"Honestly, I was ready to go, and the staff didn't feel like I was ready," he said. "That's it. There wasn't any more to it."
Fortunately for the Jazz, he will be available for Wednesday's Game 2 as they look to even the series.
Mitchell's comments come after Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported he was "incensed at the late decision to scratch him from Sunday's playoff opener, and it deepened tensions with the team regarding his recovery from a right ankle sprain."
The ESPN report explained the Louisville product declared himself ready to go and went through shootaround before the Jazz training staff recommended he not play.
It also noted Mitchell had been working with his own training staff during his rehab process.
He has not played since April 16, with his injury cutting short what was shaping up to be a career season for the 24-year-old. He was averaging 26.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game behind 38.6 percent shooting from three-point range, which were all career-best marks.
Utah was still able to clinch the No. 1 seed down the stretch without him, but it looked lost on offense for extended stretches during Sunday's playoff game.
It was just 12-of-47 from three-point range (25.5 percent) and had a mere 43 points at halftime. Bojan Bogdanovic did what he could with 29 points in the second half alone, but his contested three in the final seconds that could have forced overtime didn't fall.
With Mitchell back in the fold, the Jazz will have to win four of the next six contests to avoid an early elimination after an impressive regular season.
