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SALT LAKE CITY — Sometimes there are little reminders that NBA players are just like the thousands of fans that are cheering for them from the stands.
Donovan Mitchell just had one of the more humorous ones. Mitchell was summoned for jury duty.
On Thursday, the Jazz tweeted out a letter from the general counsel for Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment asking for Mitchell to be excused from his assigned jury duty (his jury service term was from Jan. 7 - Feb. 1) because he'll be a little busy during that time. The Jazz will play 13 times during that stretch.
Sorry, @UtahGov. Donovan is a little busy right now. Please try again in July. pic.twitter.com/p3SQBXMNnU
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 6, 2018
“Mr. Mitchell’s juror qualification form was completed online this morning, and we asked that Mr. Mitchell be excused from jury service during this time given his commitments and schedule during the NBA season,” the letter wrote.
That’s a pretty solid reason. And it worked. Jazz fans won't have to worry about the young star missing time on the court to perform his civic duty. Mitchell has been excused.
“I wanted to do it, to be honest with you,” Mitchell told UtahJazz.com. “But you know … .”
Mitchell isn’t the first athlete to be summoned for jury duty — and he won’t be the last.
In 2013, LeBron James reported for jury duty but was sent home after an hour after two potential criminal trials didn’t take place. In 2009, Kobe Bryant was also called in for jury duty but wasn’t selected for the panel.
