He may suit up in wine and gold colors tonight in Salt Lake City, but Utah Jazz fans still love Donovan Mitchell.
The three-time All-Star with the Jazz — traded this summer to Cleveland — was welcomed back with a stirring tribute video and much love from the Jazz crowd on Tuesday night.
Welcome back, @spidadmitchell. All love 🖤#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/Fwtot6Z7tA
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 11, 2023
The @utahjazz crowd welcomes back Donovan Mitchell! pic.twitter.com/NFs688Hxd9
— NBA (@NBA) January 11, 2023
Mitchell quickly got to work and reminded the Utah faithful just how good he can be.
Spida wasting no time in his Utah return!
— NBA (@NBA) January 11, 2023
CAVS/JAZZ live on the NBA App:https://t.co/1pomQZN8Pi pic.twitter.com/o7x8HmLnfz
Mitchell played for five seasons in Utah, but when Danny Ainge came in he thought the Mitchell/Rudy Gobert era had run its course and it was time to move on (he was right). The Jazz surprised teams early and got off to a fast start this season, but they have come back to earth over time as their defense has struggled.
Mitchell has looked like an All-NBA player and maybe an All-Star starter for the Cavaliers this summer, who would make that trade again 100 times out of 100.