History of Donovan Mitchell in Timeline
Donovan Mitchell Jr., nicknamed "Spida", is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was drafted 13th overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets, who then traded his draft rights to the Utah Jazz. Mitchell played five seasons for the Jazz, earning five NBA All-Star selections, before being traded to the Cavaliers in 2022.
1995: Michael Jordan returns to the NBA
Michael Jordan took the number 45 during his return to the NBA in 1995 after a brief stint playing baseball.
September 7, 1996: Donovan Mitchell Jr. is born
Donovan Mitchell Jr. was born on September 7, 1996, in Elmsford, New York.
2010: Donovan Mitchell witnesses LeBron James' announcement
At 13 years old, Donovan Mitchell was present at the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich (Conn.) when LeBron James announced his decision to sign with the Miami Heat.
2015: Donovan Mitchell commits to the University of Louisville
Donovan Mitchell committed to the University of Louisville to play college basketball.
July 5, 2017: Donovan Mitchell Signs with the Utah Jazz
Donovan Mitchell signed a four-year rookie scale contract with the Utah Jazz.
July 11, 2017: Donovan Mitchell Signs with Adidas and Scores 37 Points in Summer League
Donovan Mitchell signed a multi-year shoe deal with Adidas and scored 37 points against the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2017 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, the most by any player during the 2017 NBA Summer League.
October 18, 2017: Donovan Mitchell Debuts in the NBA
Donovan Mitchell made his NBA debut, registering 10 points and four assists against the Denver Nuggets.
December 1, 2017: Donovan Mitchell Scores Career-High 41 Points
Donovan Mitchell scored a career-high 41 points in a 114–108 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. He set the Jazz scoring record for a rookie and became the first NBA rookie to score 40 points in a game since Blake Griffin in 2011. He surpassed Darrell Griffith's team-record 38 in 1981. Mitchell also became the seventh rookie in franchise history to have a 30-plus point game, as well as the first to have a 40-plus point game.
2017: Donovan Mitchell is drafted to the NBA
Donovan Mitchell was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft and acquired by the Utah Jazz.
2017: Featured in Slam Magazine and Rookie on the Rise Documentary
During the 2017–18 NBA season, Mitchell appeared on the cover of Slam and starred in a documentary called Rookie on the Rise. The docuseries follows Mitchell during his race for NBA Rookie of the Year.
2017: Donovan Mitchell earns first-team all-conference honors
Donovan Mitchell earned first-team all-conference honors in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as a college basketball player for the Louisville Cardinals.
January 4, 2018: Donovan Mitchell Named Western Conference Rookie of the Month
Donovan Mitchell was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December 2017 after averaging 23.1 points, 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 34.3 minutes per game during the month of December.
January 15, 2018: Donovan Mitchell Breaks Karl Malone's Franchise Record
Donovan Mitchell surpassed Karl Malone's franchise record for most 20+ points games during a rookie season when he had his 19th 20+ point game.
February 2, 2018: Donovan Mitchell Scores Second 40-Point Game of Rookie Season
Donovan Mitchell recorded his second 40-point game of his rookie season against the Phoenix Suns, becoming the first rookie guard to notch two 40-point games since Allen Iverson in 1996–97.
February 5, 2018: Donovan Mitchell Wins Slam Dunk Contest
Donovan Mitchell was named by the NBA as an injury replacement for Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon for the 2018 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. He won the contest scoring a 48 and 50 in the first round, then a 50 and 48 in the final round being the first rookie to win the contest since Zach LaVine.
March 1, 2018: Donovan Mitchell Named Western Conference Rookie of the Month
Donovan Mitchell was named as the Western Conference Rookie of the month for the third time that season for games played in February.
May 22, 2018: Donovan Mitchell Named to NBA All-Rookie First Team
Donovan Mitchell was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team
October 24, 2018: Donovan Mitchell Scores Season-High 38 Points
Donovan Mitchell scored a season-high 38 points in a 100–89 win over the Houston Rockets.
2018: Donovan Mitchell wins the Slam Dunk Contest
Donovan Mitchell, as a rookie with the Utah Jazz, was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and won the Slam Dunk Contest.
January 25, 2019: Donovan Mitchell Records Only Double-Double of the Season
Donovan Mitchell recorded his first and only double-double of the season, with 24 points and 11 assists, in a 106–102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
October 23, 2019: Donovan Mitchell Opens Season with 32 Points and 12 Assists
Donovan Mitchell opened the 2019–20 season with a 32-point, 12-assist performance in a 105–95 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
January 16, 2020: Donovan Mitchell Ties Career-High 46 Points
Donovan Mitchell tied his career-high 46 points in a 138–132 overtime loss to the Pelicans.
March 11, 2020: Donovan Mitchell Tests Positive for COVID-19, Suspending NBA Season
Donovan Mitchell and teammate Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in the NBA suspending its season.
August 17, 2020: Donovan Mitchell Scores 57 Points in Playoff Game
Donovan Mitchell scored 57 points in a 125–135 overtime loss to the Nuggets, the third most in playoff history.
2020: Donovan Mitchell Signs Five-Year Extension with Jazz
During the shortened 2020 off-season, Mitchell signed a five-year rookie extension with the Jazz, paying him at least $163 million with an incentivized maximum of $195 million.
February 23, 2021: Selected as a Western Conference All-Star
Donovan Mitchell was selected as a Western Conference reserve for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, marking his second consecutive All-Star selection.
February 3, 2022: Selected as a Western Conference All-Star
Donovan Mitchell was selected as a Western Conference reserve for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, marking his third consecutive All-Star selection.
September 1, 2022: Traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks, and two pick swaps.
2022: Donovan Mitchell is traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
January 2, 2023: Scored a career-high 71 points
Donovan Mitchell scored an NBA season-high, career-high, and Cavaliers-record 71 points, along with eight rebounds and 11 assists, in a 145–134 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls. It was the highest-scoring game for any NBA player since Kobe Bryant's 81-point game in 2006. Mitchell became the seventh player in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a game, and the first to do so with at least 10 assists.
January 26, 2023: Named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter
Donovan Mitchell was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, marking his fourth consecutive selection and first one as a starter.
March 3, 2024: Fractured his nose
Donovan Mitchell fractured his nose after receiving an elbow from teammate Tristan Thompson.