Donovan Mitchell

Ryan Kostecka

On a night that brought the stars to Salt Lake City, it was Team Giannis that stole the show.

In what amounted to a glorified scrimmage between the best basketball players in the world for the first three quarters, the final quarter delivered all the action that those at Vivint Arena came to see.

With the final score set at 182, Team Giannis needed just 24 points to pick up the win — the first for Antetokounmpo in three tries since he became captain.

However, Team LeBron didn’t go down without a fight, as a late 10-3 run made it a nine-point game. They later cut it to six, 181-175, following a Jaylen Brown three — but Damian Lillard, as he’d done all night, drilled a walk-off 30-footer for the 184-175 win.

Speaking with reporters on Saturday night, Lauri Markkanen was asked whether he cared if he was the first or last player chosen in the NBA All-Star draft on Sunday night.

Shocker, the big man from Finland didn’t — he was just happy to be representing the Jazz as a first-time All-Star. But when the lights shined brightest, Markkanen proved precisely why he deserved to be on the biggest stage.

Despite being the final starter chosen for Team Giannis, Markkanen got off to a quick start when he threw down a halfcourt alley-top from former Jazzman Donovan Mitchell — much to the delight of Vivint Arena. After another alley-oop and a deep three, Markkanen had a quick seven points and was delivering on the show he promised to put on.

Overall, he finished with 13 points and seven rebounds on 6-of-13 shooting.

“Pretty surreal,” Markkanen said about his first All-Star game. “I was excited to get out there the whole weekend. I mean, I got to participate in the 3-Point Contest, but this was what we were waiting for. … Just a great experience to be a part of. I can’t wait to be here again.”

While Markkanen was clearly the star for Jazz Nation on Sunday night, Mitchell got nearly as many cheers. After spending the first five years of his career in Utah, including being named a three-time All-Star, Mitchell wowed the crowd with a stunning performance throughout the night.

Taking his game to another level this season with Cleveland, Mitchell reminded Utah fans why he was so beloved with an array of offensive moves that continually wowed the crowd.

He battled with Jayson Tatum for MVP honors, barely falling short despite finishing with 40 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds.

“I grew up here as a player, as a person, as a man,” Mitchell said postgame. “Then to be back here as a starter, to come back here for All-Star, it makes sense.”

Tatum took home MVP honors after dropping an All-Star game record 55 points, shooting 22-of-31 from the floor and 10-for-18 from deep. He added 10 rebounds and six assists.

Battling Mitchell and Tatum for Team LeBron were Joel Embiid and Kyrie Irving — both of whom showed why they’re considered among the elite scorers in the game.

Irving finished with 32 points, 15 assists, and seven rebounds, while Embiid added 32 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

The first quarter saw both teams feeling one another out, with runaway dunks, wide-open threes, and very little defense. But with the score close late in the first, the intensity picked up as each team wanted to win the $100,000 for their respective charity.

Pascal Siakim’s bucket gave Team Giannis a three-point lead with two minutes to go, but back-to-back buckets by Brown gave Team LeBron the one-point lead. Trailing by three late, Team Giannis responded with a 5-0 run as Jrue Holiday drilled a three to give them the lead with 27 seconds remaining — but Brown responded with a bucket on the next possession.

The score was tied at 46 after one — and each charity took home $50,000.

The second quarter remained close throughout, with each team putting together a few highlights that brought the crowd to its feet multiple times. But when it mattered most, Team Giannis got the job done.

A Kyrie Irving three gave Team LeBron a two-point lead with 1:33 to play in the half — but Mitchell and Lillard took over for Team Giannis. Mitchell scored five quick points to give them the lead, but Irving answered again as Team LeBrown regained the one-point advantage.

Fresh off his Three-Point Contest win on Saturday night, Lillard caught fire with back-to-back deep balls before a Tatum layup completed the scoring.

The third quarter belonged to Team Giannis — mainly, the three-headed monster of Mitchell, Tatum, and Lillard.

Mitchell and Tatum combined to dominate the third, scoring the first 28 points for Team Giannis to start the third. While Lillard would make another three, Mitchell and Tatum stayed hot by knocking down deep threes again. Tatum finished with 27, while Mitchell and Lillard added 14 points each, as they combined to score 56 of the team’s 59 points in the quarter.

Team Giannis led 158-141 heading to the fourth.

Lillard led all bench scorers with 26 points on 8-of-20 from deep, while Siakim chipped in 12 points for Team Giannis.

LeBron James finished with 13 points at the half but didn’t return to the game following a hand injury — which isn’t considered serious. Tyrese Halliburton added 18 points, while Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle chipped in 12 and 11, respectively.

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"Pretty Surreal" | Markkanen And Mitchell Help Team Giannis Win NBA All-Star Game

It’s rare, but Tuesday night might’ve been the best of both worlds for the Utah Jazz.&nbsp;

Not only did they honor former Jazzman Donovan Mitchell in his return to Vivint Arena — and he put on a show — the Jazz were able to overcome their late-game struggles and pick up the 116-114 win in dramatic fashion.

“We’ve talked all year that we win as a team and we lose as a team. … I’m very happy for our guys that we were able to pull out the win,” head coach Will Hardy said. “Tonight was a good reminder of our team to have what it takes to dig in mentally for 48 minutes. I thought our team did a good job of staying in the moment and staying focused on the next thing.”

Here are five things to know following the win:&nbsp;

1.) Don Dominates In ReturnAs far as homecomings go, Mitchell couldn’t have asked for a better individual performance. Showing why he’s making a case to be involved in the MVP discussion, he finished with a game-high 46 points (tying his career high at Vivint Arena), adding six assists, five rebounds, and three assists.&nbsp;

He started off hot with 12 points in the opening quarter and then closed strong with 17 points in the fourth. He scored at all three levels and was particularly frisky on defense when up against Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley.&nbsp;

Mitchell was incredible in his five years with the Jazz, but seeing him take his game to another level while with Cleveland is particularly impressive. While I always hope the absolute best for them, as long as the Jazz continue to come out on top in their head-to-head showdowns.&nbsp;

2.) Clarkson Comes Up ClutchWhile Mitchell may have been sensational in the final 12 minutes, Jordan Clarkson came up clutch for the Jazz when they needed it most.&nbsp;

Beginning with a 7-point possession — yes, SEVEN POINTS in ONE POSSESSION — he went on a personal 9-0 run as the Jazz turned a five-point deficit into a four-point lead in 43 seconds. To say he was incredible in those moments doesn’t even begin to describe how special he was, making NBA history in the process.&nbsp;

Every time the Jazz needed a big bucket, Clarkson was the one who answered. He was dominant, finishing with 32 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 11-of-19 shooting and 5-for-9 from deep.&nbsp;

“JC was massive for us in the second half,” Hardy said. “I think he had a seven-point play, which I told him to do. He’s such a rhythm player that him getting to the free throw line helps settle him a little to see a few go in.”

3.) Markkanen Makes Jazz HistoryLost in the shuffle on Mitchell’s return and Clarkson’s clutch fourth quarter was Lauri Markkanen etching himself into the Utah record books.&nbsp;

Doing something neither Mitchell nor Clarkson had ever done before, Markkanen’s corner three-pointer in the third quarter put him over 1,000 career points for the Jazz. He is now the second-fastest player to achieve the feat, doing so in just 40 games. Adrian Dantley holds the record by reaching that threshold in just 34 games.&nbsp;

Overcoming a slow start by his standards, Markkanen finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds. He was particularly impressive on the defensive end, understanding that his side and length at 7 feet allowed him to bother the Cavs anywhere on the court.&nbsp;

4.) Finish StrongSaying the Jazz have had a rough go of things lately would be an understatement. Following a five-game losing streak in which they lost by a total of 15 points, Utah had a chance to get back to its winning ways but struggled in the clutch in losses to Chicago and Memphis.&nbsp;

So when the Jazz found themselves down by five following a 17-8 Cleveland run, it appeared they were going to suffer another heartbreaker.&nbsp;

But like Hardy had been coaching throughout the past few weeks, Utah continued to play through its struggles and battled. Clarkson’s 9-0 run was part of a larger 13-0 run as the Jazz found success on both ends of the court.&nbsp;

“That’s a really gritty team win for us,” Hardy said. “We’ve talked a lot the last couple of days about our approach and mentality, being able to maintain our focus and mindset through tough moments. I thought we came out in the second half with a great purpose. … Cleveland made their run, but our guys dug in and stayed focused on the little things.”

5.) Fans Show Their Love And SupportAfter a lot of recent talk about what sort of reception Mitchell would receive from Jazz Nation, I think it’s extremely important to acknowledge that those inside Vivint Arena were simply sensational on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

Not only did they give Mitchell a standing ovation when he was introduced into Cleveland’s starting lineup, but the fans also had the perfect amount of cheers and boos. While they showed their love and appreciation for Mitchell, they still wanted a Utah victory, so they booed him loudly during his free throw attempts.

But the best interaction between Mitchell and Jazz Nation came in the third quarter, which showed how the fans genuinely feel about their former guard.&nbsp;

Following a missed three by Mitchell, those inside Vivint made sure he knew what happened as chants of “airball” began echoing throughout the arena. But as Mitchell looked up and grinned, acknowledging the heckling with a chuckle, the chants started to die and were replaced with cheering.&nbsp;

It was an incredible moment, one shared by a passionate fanbase and a former star who gave them everything he had every time he stepped on the court.&nbsp;

“The reception was phenomenal,” Mitchell said postgame. “I am appreciative of it from everybody, the tribute was great. It felt like it was just a typical Jazz night. … Back and forth, screaming, yelling, it was awesome.”

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"A Typical Jazz Night" | Five Things To Know Following Utah's Victory Over Cleveland

What started as an emotional night with a tribute to former Jazzman Donovan Mitchell ended with a sensational performance by his former teammate, Jordan Clarkson.&nbsp;

With 15 points in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, Clarkson helped will the Jazz to a much-needed victory as they closed out the Cavaliers in spectacular fashion to win 116-114 on Tuesday night.

“That’s a really gritty team win for us,” head coach Will Hardy said postgame. “We’ve talked a lot the last couple of days about our approach and mentality, being able to maintain our focus and mindset through tough moments. I thought we came out in the second half with a great purpose. … Cleveland made their run but our guys dug in and stayed focused on the little things.”

Known for catching lightning in a bottle, The Flamethrower did just that against the league’s top defense.&nbsp;

With Utah trailing by five with just under two minutes remaining, Clarkson had the extremely rare seven-point possession. After hitting a three and being fouled, Cleveland was whistled for a flagrant one. Not only did Clarkson hit the free throw, but the Jazz also kept the ball — and he was fouled again on a three-point attempt and knocked down all three.&nbsp;

In a span of 13 seconds, Utah went from being down five to up two. Another Clarkson bucket and free throws by Lauri Markkanen and Malik Beasley helped seal the victory.

“We’ve talked all year that we win as a team and we lose as a team. … I’m just very very proud that our guys were able to dig in tonight,” Hardy said. “Very happy for our guys that we were able to pull out the win.”

Before the game, Clarkson was preaching that it was all love between him and Mitchell and that there was no extra motivation going against his former teammate.&nbsp;

While that may have been true, Clarkson didn’t play like it.&nbsp;

Every time the Jazz needed a big bucket, Clarkson was the one who answered with a sensational fourth quarter when he scored nine straight points over 50 seconds. He was dominant all around, finishing with 32 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 11-of-19 shooting and 5-for-9 from deep.&nbsp;

Interestingly enough, Markkanen’s former team theoretically gives him the most challenging matchup on offense. Able to throw multiple bodies at him who all have size, length, and strength, it will always be a battle when The Finnisher plays Cleveland.&nbsp;

He was up to the challenge on Tuesday night.

As expected, Jazz Nation showed a crazy amount of love when Mitchell was announced pregame — giving the former Utah guard a standing ovation.&nbsp;

Playing off that energy, Mitchell was sensational to start the game — but the Jazz were up to the task as Utah jumped out to a quick 11-7 lead following a Clarkson three. Cleveland responded with a 15-5 run as Mitchell knocked down two threes.&nbsp;

But behind seven points from Rudy Gay, the Jazz closed the quarter on a 15-2 run — punctuated by a Gay dunk to beat the buzzer.&nbsp;

A bucket by Nickeil Alexander-Walker gave the Jazz an eight-point advantage at the eight-minute mark, but that’s when the Cavs responded. A 12-2 run by Cleveland gave them the lead before Mike Conley’s three calmed things down.&nbsp;

The teams would exchange buckets the rest of the way as a Clarkson three and Mitchell jumper tied the game at 55 at the break.&nbsp;

Utah came out firing to start the third as Markkanen and Malik Beasley scored five points each to give the Jazz a one-point lead.

Then it became the Clarkson show for the next couple of minutes. He scored eight straight points as part of a larger 12-0 run as the Jazz jumped out to a 76-63 lead with five to play.

Cleveland fought back as a Garland three made it a seven-point game and silenced the Vivint crowd — only for a second, though. Clarkson found Markkanen on the ensuing possession for a corner three to reignite the crowd again.&nbsp;

However, the Cavs weren’t done as they closed the quarter on a 10-4 run.

The Jazz led 88-84 heading to the fourth.

The tough whistle for the Jazz continued as the Cavaliers were able to cut the deficit to two, forcing a Hardy timeout less than two minutes in.&nbsp;

Although Utah did everything it could to hold off the Cavaliers, they still couldn’t get a foul call or a bucket to drop — and Cleveland took advantage. An 11-0 run, aided by 10 points from Mitchell, gave the Cavaliers a 101-94 lead with just over six to play.

The Jazz were able to ride out Cleveland’s hot streak and kept fighting, trailing by five with just under two minutes left — and the drama was just beginning.

Beasley and Mike Conley added 13 points and four rebounds each, while Walker Kessler added six points and 11 rebounds. Alexander-Walker was incredible off the bench, finishing with 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists.&nbsp;

Mitchell tied his Vivint Arena high with 46 points, adding six assists, five rebounds, and three steals.&nbsp;

The Jazz now have two days off before playing another back-to-back — their league-high 12th of the season — when they face Orlando on Friday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.

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"Gritty Team Win" | Clarkson Catches Fire In Fourth, Utah Spoils Mitchell's Return With Win

It’s a rarity in the NBA that a trade between two teams ends up being a win-win scenario for both organizations.&nbsp;

However, the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers have proven that it’s possible.

In a trade that sent three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Ochai Agbaji, (as well as future first round picks, and future first round draft swaps) the Jazz and Cavaliers have maintained a vibrant confidence and positive outlook for how it turned out.&nbsp;

“Ochai, Lauri and Collin are exciting young players, and we’re thrilled to add them to our roster,” Jazz General Manager Justin Zanik said last September. “We believe that they fit the Jazz culture and hard-nosed, competitive brand of basketball we’ve built here in Utah. They give us versatility and athleticism on both ends of the floor as we grow toward the future. We look forward to our fans getting to know them.”&nbsp;

In a few short months since attaining official status as a Jazzman, Markkanen has emerged as a bonafide All-Star and is having a career season with the Jazz.&nbsp;

Markkanen is averaging 24.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He’s one of two players in the league to be averaging 20+ points per game on 50% shooting from the floor (53%) and 40% shooting from three (41.6%) — Steph Curry is the other.&nbsp;

After undergoing season-ending knee surgery during last season with the Cavs, Sexton has come back with a vengeance and firmly supplanted himself as a significant part of Utah’s future plans. A lightning quick guard who is Utah’s best one-on-one player, he’s third on the team with 14.1 points and 2.9 assists in 24.1 minutes per game.

Lastly, Agbaji has emerged over the past week with back-to-back career games against Houston and Chicago. After putting up 11 points against the Rockets, Agbaji dropped 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting (4-of-4 from deep) against the Bulls.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, since moving to The Land, Mitchell has catapulted the Cavaliers to its current status as one of the best teams in the NBA – fourth place in the Eastern Conference with the league's sixth-best overall record.&nbsp;

The play of everyone involved in the trade and the steps forward they’ve all taken are further proof that both teams can win when making deals with one another.&nbsp;

That's why when Mitchell makes his much-awaited return to Vivint Arena on Tuesday night, he should be showered with cheers and applause by Jazz Nation when his name is introduced in the starting lineup.

“Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman. We honor the amazing five seasons Donovan gave the Jazz and the incredible contributions he made to the Utah community,” owner Ryan Smith said. “He will always be part of the Jazz's legacy, even when he is wearing another jersey as our competitor. I look forward to seeing every fan join me in a standing ovation as Donovan returns to Utah for the first time of many over the course of his career.”

Traded to Utah during the 2017 draft night, Mitchell emerged as one of the best players in the history of the organization during his five years with the team. His accolades are inarguable, as he is one of only two players from his draft class to be named an All-Star in three of their first five seasons. (Boston's Jayson Tatum is the other.)

While in Utah, he averaged 23.9 points, 4.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game on 44.1% shooting from the floor and 36.1% from three-point territory. During his time with the Jazz, Mitchell collected many career accolades, including a rookie season where he won the 2018 Slam Dunk contest and was named First-Team All-Rookie. He was also named the Western Conference Player of the Month in December 2021.

Quickly climbing up the franchise record books, Mitchell ranks No. 8 in points scored (8,234), No. 4 in points per game (23.9), No. 2 in made three-pointers (958), No. 9 in minutes per game (33.7), No. 8 in assists per game (4.5), No. 9 in steals per game (1.3), and No. 2 in usage percentage (31.4).

For postseason totals, he ranks No. 4 in points (1,073), No. 7 in assists (175), and No. 9 in steals (45). He also owns the Jazz’s all-time single-season three-point record, knocking down 232 during the 2021-22 season.

Throughout his five seasons in Utah, Mitchell played in 345 regular season games (337 starts) and 39 postseason games (all starts). When Mitchell was on the team, the Jazz compiled a 218-127 record (.632 winning percentage), while advancing to the playoffs each season.

“We did a lot of great things there. … We did not accomplish our main goal,” Mitchell told reporters after Cleveland’s game in Phoenix Sunday night. “I don’t know what the response is going to be, and I am hopeful there will be cheers. Like I said, I had a lot of positives despite not winning a championship. …That is not easy and only one team does it. At the end of the day, we played well, and we had great groups of coaches.”

While his on-court success with the Jazz can never be diminished, what Mitchell did in communities across the country and throughout Utah is where his legacy as a Jazzman will last forever. With a heart as big as his superstar status, Mitchell has championed social justice and education, using his platform to speak out against racism and inequity.&nbsp;

More than anything, he backed up his words with generosity.&nbsp;

He pledged $12 million to Greenwich Country Day (his alma mater and the school where his mother taught for over a decade). He gave all the proceeds from sales of his Adidas basketball sneakers D.O.N. Issue #2 x Louisville (up to $200,000) to provide scholarships and academic initiatives for black students at the University of Louisville.

For his community service and philanthropic commitments, Mitchell was awarded the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his work in summer 2020.

While Mitchell was sensational for Utah for reasons on and off the court, it’s rare for a player – especially an All-Star – to stay with a team for their entire career.&nbsp;

Now the Jazz not only have a team battling for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference, but also are armed with more assets moving forward than any other team in the league. The front office has done everything possible to give new head coach Will Hardy the best chance at succeeding in the future.

"It was clear that in order to optimize our opportunity to create a team that could truly contend and establish sustained success, we needed to transition our roster,” said Jazz CEO of Basketball Danny Ainge during the summer. “In trading Rudy (Gobert) and now Donovan, it was a rare opportunity to maximize our ability to get quality talent and picks to best position us moving forward. We have a plan in place to help us assemble the championship team our fans deserve. It will take time to craft our roster. We all understand the work ahead and are committed to our vision."

While Mitchell's departure undoubtedly left a hole in the hearts of Jazz fans everywhere, his legacy has continued to live on. He'll forever be a Jazzman.&nbsp;

45. Spida. Donovan. Thank you. It's been an honor.

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“Once A Jazzman, Always A Jazzman" | Jazz Excited To Welcome Donovan Mitchell Back To Utah

After two exhilarating victories over one of the top teams in the NBA, the Jazz head back on the road for a three-game swing.&nbsp;

It'll be one of the more difficult road trips of the season, beginning with Milwaukee on Saturday and ending with back-to-back games against Cleveland and Detroit. The Bucks and Cavs are among the best teams in the league, while the Pistons came to Salt Lake City just under a month ago and walked away with a victory.&nbsp;

While the competition will be challenging, there's another underlying theme for the Jazz during this trip.&nbsp;

Utah will be facing former Jazzman Joe Ingles (Milwaukee), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland), and Bojan Bogdanovic (Detroit) during the trip. While Ingles isn't expected to play while recovering from ACL surgery, Mitchell and Bogdanovic have been among the better players in the league.&nbsp;

Mitchell is a darkhorse MVP candidate, looking rejuvenated playing for an upstart Cleveland team that is 18-11 and in third place in the East.&nbsp;

He's averaging 29.2 points (42.9% from three), 4.7 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. He's also found a penchant for defense again, rising to the occasion and becoming one of the league's most difficult players to defend and play against.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Bogdanovic is enjoying a career season with the Pistons. He's averaging career-highs of 21.1 points on 43.2% shooting from deep, serving as a sensational mentor for a young Pistons squad. Although Detroit is in 14th place in the East, they're a team that is capable of beating any team in the league on any given night — as the Jazz already know.&nbsp;

"We had some good years and still keep in contact. ... It's going to be fun to compete against them," Mike Conley said. "I haven't gotten to play against them so they're going to be fun games."

The good news for Utah is that despite losing four of five starters from last season, now incorporating 10 new players and a new head coach, the Jazz have proven to be as resilient a team as there is in the league.&nbsp;

Leading Utah's resurgence has been the play of Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson, who combined for 70 points in Thursday's victory over New Orleans. They've emerged as one of the better duos in the game, a pair of scorers who accomplish their goals in different manners but pair ideally together.&nbsp;

"The end of the game is representative of our team. … This team just keeps finding ways to stay attached and stay in games," head coach Will Hardy said Thursday. "It's not one guy making the plays. … It's a variety of guys making a variety of plays. This is who those guys are, and they proved it once again tonight."

But the real leader for the Jazz is their 16-year veteran point guard, Mike Conley. He's by far Utah's most important player, capable of putting his stamp on a game and controlling the tempo without having to score.&nbsp;

Trailing by five with just over 3 minutes to play in regulation, Conley finished with three assists and a pair of free throws to lead the Jazz. He would've had a fourth assist if not for a foul, which added another pair of free throws.

There's no undervaluing what Conley brings to this team from a mental and physical standpoint — The Jazz are 13-6 when Conley starts with 11 of those wins coming against teams above .500.

"Mike manipulated a lot of that stuff on the court, getting me in situations where I had the advantage," Clarkson said. "He's a true point guard, a guy that gets everybody shots, a guy that can really slow the game down when he sees there's a moment where we kind of just out of control and doing wild stuff like I always do. … When it comes to a point guard like, it's rare that you get those kind of guys."

While the Jazz will be looking to improve upon their 17-14 record throughout the three-game road trip, Clarkson and Conley admitted that the upcoming games will be about more than just competition. It's a chance to see old friends and collect on old debts.&nbsp;

"Hopefully Joe has some good restaurants for us. … He's paying," Clarkson said with a laugh. "And Don, he's paying too. Detroit, Bogey, he owes me. … So he's paying as well."

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"Road Trip Reunion" | Resilient Jazz To See Former Teammates Throughout Three-Game Swing

Farewell to the superstar with a huge heart.&nbsp;

Since Mitchell joined the Jazz, the three-time All-Star has embraced the organization, and not just Salt Lake City, but the entire state as a whole.

“The Jazz had so many great moments with Donovan over the past five years as he developed into a perennial All-Star,” Owner Ryan Smith said. “But just as important was the lasting impact he made in Utah. He is an amazing human and touched the lives of so many through his engagement in the community. Our entire organization wishes him every success in his future. Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman.”

The connection between Mitchell and the organization began before the team ever acquired the guard.

As the Jazz prepared for the 2017 NBA Draft, Mitchell took part in one of the team’s first Draft workouts of the offseason.

“I wanted to work out for the Jazz. … I love the organization,” Michell said in 2017.&nbsp;

As a Jazzman, Mitchell’s accolades are inarguable, as one of only two players from the 2017 Draft to be named an All-Star in three of their first five seasons (Boston's Jayson Tatum is the other).

He has averaged 23.9 points, 4.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game on 44.1% shooting from the floor and 36.1% from three-point territory. Among his career accolades, Mitchell won the 2018 Slam Dunk contest, was First-Team All-Rookie, and named the Western Conference Player of the Month in December 2021.

Quickly climbing up the franchise record books, Mitchell currently ranks No. 8 in points scored (8,234), No. 4 in points per game (23.9), No. 2 in made three-pointers (958), No. 9 in minutes per game (33.7), No. 8 in assists per game (4.5), No. 9 in steals per game (1.3), and No. 2 in usage percentage (31.4).

For postseason totals, he ranks No. 4 in points (1,073), No. 7 in assists (175), and No. 9 in steals (45). He also owns Utah's all-time single-season three-point record, knocking down 232 last season.

Throughout his five seasons in Utah, Mitchell played in 345 regular season games (337 starts) and 39 postseason games (all starts). Since he joined the team, the Jazz have compiled a 218-127 record (.632 winning percentage), while advancing to the playoffs every season of his career.

A heart as big as his superstar status, Mitchell has championed social justice and education, using his platform to speak out against racism and inequity.&nbsp;

He was awarded the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his work in the summer of 2020.

Mitchell is one of the most beloved players in Jazz history and is well-known for signing autographs before and after games. Instead of rushing to the locker room after the final buzzer, he would often linger on the court to ensure fans got the signature they were so desperately seeking.&nbsp;

His work with children is almost second-to-none in the league. It's not rare for Mitchell to pull a fan from the stands and have them pass him the ball throughout warmups, giving the child a once-in-a-lifetime experience.&nbsp;

While Mitchell's departure will undoubtedly leave a hole in the hearts of Jazz fans everywhere, his legacy will continue to live on. He’ll forever be a Jazzman.&nbsp;

In a deal that sent shockwaves throughout the league, Utah traded Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guards Ochai Agbaji (OCH-eye uh-BAH-gee), Collin Sexton, forward Lauri Markkanen (LAU-ree MARK-a-nin), future first round picks, and future first round draft swaps.

"It was clear that in order to optimize our opportunity to create a team that could truly contend and establish sustained success, we needed to transition our roster,” said Jazz CEO of Basketball Danny Ainge. “In trading Rudy and now Donovan, it was a rare opportunity to maximize our ability to get quality talent and picks to best position us moving forward. We have a plan in place to help us assemble the championship team our fans deserve. It will take time to craft our roster. We all understand the work ahead and are committed to our vision."

“Ochai, Lauri and Collin are exciting young players, and we’re thrilled to add them to our roster,” Jazz General Manager Justin Zanik added. “We believe that they fit the Jazz culture and hard-nosed, competitive brand of basketball we’ve built here in Utah. They give us versatility and athleticism on both ends of the floor as we grow toward the future. We look forward to our fans getting to know them.”&nbsp;

thank-you-donovan

Thank You, Donovan

Speaking publicly for the first time since Utah traded Rudy Gobert to Minnesota in a massive move, Jazz CEO Danny Ainge and GM Justin Zanik explained their rational behind the move and how it sets Utah for an extremely bright future.

"Some of these opportunities that come up are hard, but given the amount of return and how motivated Minnesota was, it was just something that we all had to get together as a group and decide, 'Hey, this is something that we need to do for the organization,'" Zanik said of the trade on Saturday.

The return for Gobert was considered monumental, with Utah receiving Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, the draft rights to Walker Kessler, future draft picks and a draft swap.

Following the trade, many experts around the league believed Ainge and Zanik were embarking on a full rebuild — especially considering it meant that Utah's championship window with two all-stars in Gobert and Donovan Mitchell (and recently departed head coach Quin Snyder) had officially ended.

"The team fell short, we fell short," Zanik said. "So we need to recalibrate and try to go and open up the next window. … And hopefully, it's a long window."

The Jazz are retooling their roster by getting younger, more athletic, and with significantly more assets — all while focusing on building around Mitchell, a budding superstar.

"I'm not trying to be cryptic or anything else, but Donovan is on our roster," Zanik said. "He's a very, very important part of what we're trying to do. Things evolve in the NBA. … So I couldn't sit here and say anybody is (untouchable). We're trying to build a championship team, but there's no intent (to trade him) at all."

Part of this new direction was the hire of Will Hardy, a 34-year-old first-time head coach — a move supported by Mitchell.

"Donovan has been very supportive of all of the things that we're doing," Zanik said. "He has a previous relationship with coach Hardy as well from Team USA. … So we've been in contact with both him and his representatives, kind of keeping them up to date, and we'll continue to do so."

While the Jazz fully expect to build around Mitchell, it doesn't mean that changes won't come from their three-time all-star.

Drafted as a 3-and-D shooting guard, Mitchell has become more than that. An elite scorer capable of getting a bucket whenever he wants, he's also a proven playmaker — a move that Ainge fully expects to build on.

"We have talked about that a lot," Ainge said. "He has played some one. He played some last year at times when Mike was out of the game. Him evolving into a one will make him a better player, whether he is the actual full-time one or a part-time one."

Make no mistake though, the offseason is far from over from Utah's perspective.

"We're still in free agency and the offseason, so we're going to look at every opportunity," Zanik said. "We still have a couple roster spots open and, obviously, the evaluation of Summer League and any other opportunities that come up to continue to do what we can to balance and improve the roster.

With many roster spots still available, the Jazz know that there are moves to be made — but that doesn't mean they will be rushed in making them.

"We're happy with a lot of the guys that are coming in from Minnesota, and I think they all can contribute in some way," Zanik said. "We'll see how it goes, but it's kind of we're in the middle of it right now."

The trade was just the start of what could be an exciting and thrilling future — one full of options, possibilities, and most of all… hope.

"The draft wasn't very much fun. … Free agency wasn't very much fun," Ainge said. "You're over the tax, no draft picks, and our team loses in the first round. … It wasn't fun for us. We want it to be fun for our fans and for our players, but we just haven't had much flexibility to do anything over the last little while."

"What it does is allows you to have a lot of very interesting conversations with teams calling because of just the flexibility that you have," Zanik added. "You have a chance to talk about different concepts or deals — both now and really for the next five or six years. Our goal is to continue to add primary players and build a base that has a chance to be competitive and win a title down the road. … So those assets allow you different pathways to accomplish that; whether you're selecting or you're moving those picks on for other players."

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"Open Up The Next Window" | Utah Focused On Bright Future With Multiple Options

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