Jazz All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell played through an ankle injury during Utah’s two-round 2021 postseason run. In a new conversation with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Mitchell has indicated that the injury is healing nicely.
“The ankle feels good,” Mitchell said. “I’ll be ready to go. I think last year definitely was shaky. There were just so many different obstacles with the ankle and whatnot, but — like I said — no slight to Phoenix or Milwaukee or the Clippers, you know, (but) I feel like if we were healthy, you know, we… get to the Finals.”
The Jazz fell 4-2 to the Clippers in the second round of the Western Conference Finals. The Clippers were missing their best player, Kawhi Leonard, for the final three contests of the series, while Utah’s starting guards – Mitchell and Mike Conley – were coming off injuries of their own.
There’s more out of the Northwest Division:
- Guard Vasilije Micić revealed in a podcast interview with Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews that he was tendered a strong offer to join the Thunder for the 2021/22 season, but ultimately decided to remain in Europe, with the Turkish club Anadolu Efes. Micić cited a few factors behind his decision. A big one was that he wanted to be able to play in the Olympic qualifying games for Serbia in July and wouldn’t be able to sign Oklahoma City until August, so he didn’t want to risk an injury while he was still unsigned. Micić, a draft-and-stash prospect, was named the EuroLeague MVP while helping Anadolu Efes win the 2021 EuroLeague title.
- Thunder guard Vit Krejci will resume five-on-five workouts this week, reports Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman. The 21-year-old Krejci, selected with the No. 37 pick and flipped to the Thunder on draft night, tore his ACL in September 2020. He recently signed his first NBA contract.
- As chatter grows surrounding a potential Timberwolves deal for Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic unpacks what a deal could look like, as well as how likely it looks that a deal could happen between these particular franchises, with Minnesota apparently uninterested in including their two most valuable players, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. Krawczynski notes that a trade appears unlikely before the start of training camp, and that Sixers team president Daryl Morey will do his darnedest to drum up more interest in Simmons around the league. If the market for Simmons remains relatively apathetic, Krawczynski opines that the Timberwolves have a chance to add him.
LOVED Micic’s game ever since he was dominating at the U18 Euros. OKC DEFINITELY could’ve used him but they basically just went and got a younger, bigger version of Micic in the draft w/ Giddey. Presti always been one of my favorite GM’s & his love of big pgs which matches my own, is a big reason why. I would be surprised if Micic didn’t dominate the Turkish/Euroleague again this season. Boy has big time game
Hopefully Micic comes over as Mitsich not Michich or not at all.
I’d give Simmons, 4 firsts 3 swaps and 10% ownership stake for Mitchell at this point.
Very strange that Donovan Mitchell would use the injury excuse. Sure he didn’t really use it as an excuse but just the fact he mentioned it causes me to roll my eyes a little.
Didn’t every single team have injury issue last year? What makes him think the Jazz could Escape that bug since it was going around on almost every squad. Just as Alex mentioned in the article, the Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard !! Seriously I mean come on. Everyone battled injuries last year. There may not have been a single team that wasn’t without a key player hobbling.
It was a media availability session and I’m sure he was asked about how he was feeling going into the next season. The media tends to ask questions about health and such. It’s not like he announced it the day after he got eliminated. Simmer down
There goes Mitchell making baseless statements, again!
I mean in my book UTA overachieved last season, as usual they are a one & done in the playoffs, anything beyond the first round is a total success, & here he goes pouting & saying they would have made it to the finals, seriously!!!
Dude you will only see the finals on tv as long as you are in UTA or you are the #1 option on any team, maybe as a #2 or better #3, then you will have a strong option for playing in the finals!
I’m guessing that “your book” has not sold a single copy.
If you don’t have the confidence in yourself and your team then you’ll certainly either fail from not even trying or self-sabotage.