Season Review: Davion Mitchell

There were very few people who expected the Sacramento Kings to select Baylor’s Davion Mitchell when they were on the clock with the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Shock and confusion were some of the most common emotions experienced by the fanbase after the pick was locked in, and those reactions were understandable.

It’s just that Davion Mitchell is one of those players that all 30 teams would happily have on their roster and their fanbase would quickly grow to adore. His defensive energy and ability to play larger than his subpar height of 6’0.5″ is made possible by properly using every other possible tool at his disposal. Those tools include his his upper and lower body strength, defensive IQ, discipline, and his willingness to meticulously scout opponents beforehand.

Summer League was the first time Mitchell played in royal purple and Monte McNair’s assessment of Mitchell as the best player available at pick nine was presented to the world. Even those who remained skepical couldn’t deny that a reasonable argument could be made. While the team defense that was displayed by the eventual Las Vegas Summer League Champion Sacramento Kings didn’t infect enough of the NBA roster, Mitchell was the consistent positive on the defensive end, just as everyone expected him to be coming out of college.

Instant impact on defense

In a way, Davion Mitchell felt like the star of the show in the first four games he played with Sacramento. It quickly became apparent that at some point in the game he was going to lock up an opponent in isolation which woud ignite the crowd and/or his teammates. In those early showings, he successfully defended the likes of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, and Stephen Curry in isolation. It was the perfect chance for Davion Mitchell to quiet anyone that questioned what caliber of defender he could when dealing to NBA guards. He got beat a handful of times by the players from that group, of course, but he proved to be impactful from day one.

All season long, Mitchell continued to shine on the defensive end of the floor. His size would clearly place a limit on his defensive ceiling, but there were notable possessions where Mitchell successfully battled significantly larger players. And regardless of any size concerns, Mitchell was still far and away the team’s best perimeter defender (and there wasn’t a close second) this season. That level of defensive impact remained as conversations expanded to include every NBA guard. Mitchell was called an elite isolation defender on multiple occasions by various people in Sacramento and elsewhere and it was easy to see why.

Off-ball defense is where Off-Night has room to grow headed into year two. He managed two or more steals in a mere 11 of the 75 games he played, and had 36 games where he recorded none. But it feels like nitpicking to even point that out because the best way to optimize Mitchell’s skillset and team contributions are by having him guard on-ball as often as possible.

An unbelievable work ethic

You hear it often, but Mitchell is living proof that so much of being a good defender relies on having consistent effort, hustle, and heart. It’s impossible to understate just how often Davion Mitchell’s work ethic was praised this season.

“We all know Davion (Mitchell) is probably the hardest worker we’ve ever seen, outside of,” Fox paused to think for a moment when talking to the media postgame. “Maybe, Kobe (Bryant)?”

For Sacramento’s max guard to comfortably compare Mitchell’s work ethic to a legend of the game is saying something. It’s also telling that there wasn’t significant pushback from leaguewide NBA fans after Fox said it.

Mitchell’s work ethic was praised when he was at Baylor and that continued when he reached Sacramento. Don’t bet on it fading after his rookie season, either. It’s simply who Davion Mitchell is and part of the reason why he’s able to overcome his physical shortcomings and contribute as an outlier in the NBA.

Alvin Gentry, who was given the interim head coach title when Luke Walton was let go just 17 games into the season, managed to tie Mitchell’s work ethic into every conversation that involved the recent lottery pick. At a certain point, if you asked a question about Davion, everyone from Gentry to the person asking knew the conversation would touch on his work ethic..

Mitchell’s work ethic really is as ridiculously impressive as it sounds, it’s not lip service from a head coach. As the year went on, Alvin Gentry expressed that if anything he thought that Davion Mitchell might even be working too hard considering the grueling 82-game schedule that is an NBA regular season.

“Everybody gets up here and says ‘he’s the hardest worker I’ve ever coached,’ or whatever. Well, he is the hardest worker that I’ve ever coached,” Alvin Gentry said. “And you gotta almost protect him from himself, because he’ll be there every day before practice, every day after practice, and come back that night. So, I think that he’s gotta learn to cut some off it off because of the minutes that he’s playing.”

Keep that level of praise in mind as focus shifts to the rookie’s offensive performance, because any potential questions surrounding his struggles or growing pains were always met with a lack of concern because… you guessed it… Mitchell’s spectacular work ethic.

On the year, Mitchell averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field, 31.6 percent on 4.3 threes attempts per game, and 65.9 percent from the free-throw line on an average of 1.1 attempts per game.

None of those final numbers are particularly impressive, but averages are a complex way to represent the up-and-down offensive season Mitchell had. His environment certainly didn’t make it any easier. From regular lineup inconsistencies with Sacramento’s surrounding roster due to health and safety protocol, various injuries sidelining their key offensive cogs, decisions simply switch up the rotation up on any given night, the six new additions at the trade deadline, and of course the aforementioned head coaching swap from Walton to Gentry. It’d be hard for any rookie guard to find where they fit and shine early.

Outside of a slight hand issue that unfortunately restricted Mitchell from participating in the Rising Stars Challenge on All-Star weekend, he remained very healthy. Only Harrison Barnes played more total games than Mitchell and there’s some truth to the saying that the best ability is availability.

The aforementioned highs and lows that were displayed by Mitchell centered around his lack of consistency in handling, playmaking, creation ability, finishing, and plenty more throughout his rookie campaign.

His season-high of 28 points was one of 10 occasions this season where Mitchell contributed 20+ points in a game. Surprisingly, five of those 10 were in consecutive games. The season’s final stretch is where Mitchell saw his usage rate skyrocket due to Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox both being sidelined due to injury.

There were some eye-catching moments in those final games. He almost looked more comfortable when when was asked to be the primary initiator for Sacramento’s offense. Mitchell capitalized by leading the team in points (19.5), assists (10), field goal attempts (17.1), and minutes (40.4) throughout those final 10 games. And, he did so while still often being asked to slow down one of the best players on the other side.

Those showings contain self-creation flashes of Mitchell utilizing his ridiculous change of pace, comfort finishing at the rim with either hand, improved ability to draw fouls and convert from there, and apparently, he’s capable of a jaw-dropping poster slam over bigs if given a chance to elevate off two feet.

A handful of flashes exist in those games, but Mitchell will need to grow comfortable in a role where he’s deferring to others and finding the best way to consistently compliment the Fox and Sabonis duo, because it’s certainly not vice versa.

There were moments throughout the year where Mitchell almost felt nonexistent for entire quarters while another teammate directed the flow. It’s a typical problem for guards who came up accustomed to having the ball in their hands all the way until they reach the NBA. Haliburton and Fox both struggled to navigate that same complication with mixed success prior to the shocking deadline trade.

One undeniable aspect that Davion Mitchell should be prioritizing is his ability to shoot the three with increased consistency and accuracy. 30.8 percent from three would force the Kings to limit his total playing time alongside their new non-shooting star pairing. Mitchell himself  acknowledged his need to improve from beyond the arc.

Mitchell’s progress as a three point shooter next NBA season is what will likely dictate the amount of opportunity he’s given to show off the rest of his offensive game. Mitchell could continue to gain his own two-man chemistry with Sabonis, he could succeed in attacking closeouts and finishing, or even just quick and accelerate at swinging the ball and making the next pass. Again, it’s likely that extended opportunities will only be present for Mitchell if he becomes a threat to opposing defenses from beyond the arc. His average of 32 percent on catch-and-shoot threes is a fine starting point as long as it’s just that, a starting point that benefits from continued growth.

There’s no knowing what will change before the 2022-23 tips off, but as of right now all three of Donte DiVincenzo, Terence Davis, and Mitchell are aiming to become De’Aaron Fox’s backcourt partner of the future.

Moving forward, Davion Mitchell is already going to be expected to make his presence felt on the defensive end headed into each night. That’s truly a credit to him as it’s something that very few second-year guards can rightfully claim.

His projected offensive areas of growth, what should or should not be considered from flashes shown final 10 games of his rookies season, and to what extent he will improve are all question marks but room for improvement is to be expected.

It’s safe to bet that Davion Mitchell will be spending coutless hours this offseason working on his game with his newfound NBA perspective in mind.

Davion Mitchell, 23, is considered old for an NBA rookie that was selected in the lottery. At the end of year one, he hasn’t done much to substantially change the common long-term projection that was placed on him during the draft process of a quality role player with potential to start.

Part of the hesitancy that surrounds older prospects is due to them simply having less time to improve their game than their younger peers. It’ll be interesting to see if Mitchell can present a strong counter to that logic in his second season by using his somewhat expected countless hours workouts that’s now expected from him to refine the crucial skills need for him to become a potential starter.