Patrick Kinahan: Mitchell chips away at Jazz stereotypes

SALT LAKE CITY — Dennis Lindsey has made the issue part of his job description, to debunk the outdated theory that NBA players from all backgrounds cannot thrive living in Utah and playing for the Jazz.

During interviews and any time the subject is broached, the Jazz general manager quickly and easily can extoll the virtues of making a handsome living with his team. The Jazz, he exhorts, check all the boxes a player needs to find success.

Any player looking for ownership stability, a quality coaching staff, modern facilities and an improving team can find it all in one neat package with the Jazz. The Texas transplant also can boast about the quality of life the community can afford its residents.

For all the aces at his disposal, Lindsey now has a trump card that few NBA teams can equal, let alone beat. Better than anything he could say, Lindsey can call upon perhaps the best salesman in franchise history.

Superstar-in-the-making Donovan Mitchell is the team’s greatest selling point going forward over the next several years. And just like he did in leading the Jazz in scoring, the dynamic guard relishes every opportunity to promote his team.

Mitchell did it again this week, writing an article for The Players’ Tribune website. Summarizing his thoughts on the recently completed season, Mitchell left no doubt about his allegiance to the Jazz.

“I ended up where I belong,” he wrote. “Playing for this team, for this city.”

Related:

Donovan Mitchell wants to bring a championship to Utah; Jazz work out locals

Donovan Mitchell told The Players Tribune that he wants to bring a championship to Utah, and it might be sooner than you expect. That, plus five prospects from Utah, UVU, Weber State and Westminster worked out for the Jazz.

The ghost of Derek Harper finally has been buried. In 1997, during a season in which the Jazz reached the NBA Finals, Harper preferred to stay with the Dallas Mavericks – who finished 24-58 – rather than follow through on the trade.

In an interview aired by ESPN, Harper said: “There was a Utah deal, but you go live in Utah. Nothing against Utah or their team, but I don’t want to live there.”

Offense taken.

One year later, again with another Jazz team that played the Chicago Bulls in the finals, Orlando Magic center Rony Seikaly never reported to Utah after a trade.

Twenty years removed, this is a new era. For a host of reasons, the Jazz should be a destination team, with Mitchell leading the way.

In his article, Mitchell heaps praise on coach Quin Snyder along with teammates Rudy Gobert, Ricky Rubio, Dante Exum, Jae Crowder and Joe Ingles. He also compliments Jazz fans, recalling the late night when many lined up at the airport to greet the team after it lost in the playoffs to the Houston Rockets.

“The sky’s the limit here” Mitchell wrote. “We’ve got the Mayor of Swat Lake City in Rudy. We’ve got one of the most dangerous trios of young guards in the league in myself, Ricky and Dante. We’ve got this group who is going to do it all, both on the floor and in the locker room, in guys like Jae and Joe. We’ve got one of the best — and most underrated, if you ask me — coaches in the league, in Coach Snyder.”

Anything else?

“We’re going to be back next year, and the year after that, and the year after that,” Mitchell said.

For those counting, by the time the third “year after that” ends Mitchell will be 24 years old. No wonder he included the line: “This is the start of something special.”

Yes, it is.

Far-fetched before last season, the possibility of the Jazz competing for an NBA championship appears to be within the realm of realism in the coming years. Difficult as it may seem, the presence of Mitchell on and off the court has made the task easier.

Related topics