Utah Jazz: Donovan Mitchell seems to set a season mantra

Utah Jazz great Donovan Mitchell hopes he and his teammates will make fire.

Speaking on The Zone Sports Network in Utah this week, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell came across as a guy who is proud of his franchise’s accomplishments yet more than eager to silence all the remaining naysayers.

The two-time All-Star started by essentially proposing a “fire” theme for the upcoming season after the Jazz failed to capitalize on their scorching 52-20 regular-season record this past go-round by losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference Semifinals:

“I think we need to come out with an edge — you know, a little fire in us. I think we’ve made our mark the past two years. Obviously, we didn’t do it necessarily winning in the playoffs. But I think we are at a point where teams know who we are. Teams are coming after us. Now, we gotta come out there with a fire in ourselves and be like, we’re here, this is who we are.”

Continuity plus upgrades suggest Utah Jazz greatness

Then Donovan Mitchell alluded to the inherent value in continuity. Consider that Utah is, as things stand, set to return its top seven scorers per game from last season, including the entire starting lineup.

ALSO READ: Projecting the Jazz’s primary rotation pieces for next season

However, the newly turned 25-year-old also implied that the front office’s notable offseason moves ought to equate to an overall upgrade to the rotation in Salt Lake City:

“We brought everybody back, but we’ve also made some good adjustments, good additions in Eric [Paschall], Rudy Gay, Hassan Whiteside, and also Jared [Butler].”

Mitchell, who may have a shot at entering the MVP conversation in what will be the former late lottery pick’s fifth campaign in the league, continued:

“I think that’ll be huge for us, just continuing to build. But come out with a fire. That’s what this year should be for us. But we gotta put the work in.”

Although that work appears to already be underway for most of the fellas, it doesn’t officially begin for the squad until Sept. 28 — aka the start of training camp.

Donovan Mitchell and his Utah Jazz will tip their preseason slate on Oct. 4, on the road against the San Antonio Spurs. Their regular season gets underway on Oct. 20, at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder.