When Donovan Mitchell first joined the league in 2018, he had some of the electrifying rookie seasons in NBA historical past. He has, in flip, observed when different rookies are having good seasons.
This season, Mitchell has taken discover of Memphis Grizzlies rookie guard Jaylen Wells, who’s been fairly spectacular for a second-round choose.
Donovan Mitchell Praised Jaylen Wells For How Nicely He’s Established Himself
Mitchell bought proper to the purpose when speaking about how he feels about Wells.
“That child is nice. … I’ve watched him a bunch this season,” Donovan Mitchell stated throughout a postgame press convention, per RG’s Spencer Davies.
Mitchell additionally talked about that, given what Wells has to go up in opposition to, he’s impressed that Wells has gotten loads of consideration across the NBA.
“For a second-round rookie [to face] guys like myself, Dame [Lillard], E-book [Devin Booker], Ant [Edwards], Steph [Curry], he’s on the [scouting] report. That’s a number of respect to him,” Mitchell stated.
The Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star then delved into what precisely about Wells’ recreation he likes. Greater than that, he expressed his optimism that Wells will solely get higher from right here. “On the offensive finish, I didn’t know he shot it in addition to he did, with confidence. He’s sort of made himself a staple over there,” Mitchell added.
MORE: Donovan Mitchell Shares Wholesome Reaction as Cavaliers Inch Closer to NBA Title
“They actually depend on him to disrupt a number of various things. He’s undoubtedly actually gifted, and he’s solely gonna get higher. I give him a number of credit score for persevering with to be that participant and probably not tripping on if I rating or he will get scored on, or if he makes photographs, doesn’t make photographs. He’s been that manner. I’ve been watching all of it yr, first time in particular person.”
After going by means of a reasonably turbulent season final yr, the Grizzlies have been again with a vengeance. Including Wells into the combo has solely helped them in that regard. In reality, it’s been Wells’ play that made the Grizzlies snug with buying and selling Marcus Sensible away on the commerce deadline.
Nicely’s gradual enchancment may really make an enormous long-term distinction for the Grizzlies. They’ve been in playoff rivalry for a number of years however wanted somebody who may increase their ceiling. Wells could very effectively be the reply.
His play has clearly resonated with Mitchell, whose surprisingly superb rookie season mainly helped the Utah Jazz keep in playoff rivalry throughout his rookie yr, even after shedding All-Star Gordon Hayward the earlier offseason in 2017.
Memphis Grizzlies’ Relaxation-of-Season Outlook
The Grizzlies are 38-24 on the season, adequate for fourth within the Western Convention with a successful share of 61.3%. Nonetheless, they’ve been in a little bit of a rut, operating on a four-game shedding streak with a 3-7 document of their final 10 video games.
Memphis has a middle-of-the-pack power of schedule heading into the postseason, however defensive ace Jaren Jackson Jr. suffered an ankle damage that can go away him week-to-week, hurting his odds at incomes his second Defensive Player of the Year award in his profession.
If the standings maintain, Memphis is ready to face the Houston Texans in Spherical 1 of the NBA playoffs, which might be an intriguing matchup between two younger groups. Nonetheless, the Grizz solely at the moment maintain a 0.5-game lead over Houston and a five-game lead over the eighth seed, that means that their remaining 20-game stretch might be essential for the group.
Group star Ja Morant has had a tough season, seeing a downturn in manufacturing whereas coping with accidents, and the group will doubtless look to him to hold the load additional down the stretch, in addition to fifth-year guard Desmond Bane.
