Davion explains unique NBA rookie experience with Kings

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Davion Mitchell's rookie season with the Kings has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride thus far. 

The No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft has been one of the few bright spots so far this season for the Kings. Despite an underwhelming first half of the season for the team, the firing of head coach Luke Walton and a COVID-19 outbreak, Mitchell has found a way to shine despite the chaos around him. 

Thanks, in part, to leadership from veteran players such as Harrison Barnes. Mitchell sat down with NBC Sports California's Kyle Draper on "Kings Central," where he discussed the time he and other young Kings players were treated to dinner by Barnes earlier in the season. 

"We have team dinners," Mitchell said. "I remember a moment one time after my first road game, Harrison [Barnes] took all the rookies and second-year guys out to eat. I kind of always remember that moment because we were all just picking Harrison's brain about his NBA life, his college life and things like that. I just remember that moment because he took the rookies and the two-year guys out."

Fortunately for Mitchell and the other young players at the dinner, they were not stuck with the bill. 

"He had us that time. We didn't have any money then."

Mitchell hasn't necessarily experienced any rookie hazing so far this season, but is responsible for coordinating a very important road trip tradition. 

"They don't do nothing like that," Mitchell explained. "Other than I just gotta get Chick-fil-A every time we leave from Sacramento, that's it. For the whole plane. Every road trip I get Chick-fil-A."

RELATED: Davion reveals how Steph gave him 'welcome to NBA' moment

Chick-fil-A for the entire plane is a tall order for the rookie, literally and figuratively. 

At some point, wearing a pink backpack or any other typical rookie hazing that often takes place in the NBA doesn't sound so bad after all. 

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