Jazz's Donovan Mitchell named biggest draft steal by fellow rookies
The Utah Jazz found themselves a diamond in the rough with the 13th overall pick this summer, at least according to his peers.
Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell was named the biggest steal of the NBA draft by his fellow freshmen in the annual rookie survey compiled by John Shuhmann of NBA.com.
Mitchell won 18.9 percent of the vote, which was presumably boosted by his stellar showing during summer league. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Louisville displayed strong defensive tenacity, a reliable 3-point shot, and an ability to create his own offense and get to the basket.
His performance instantly turned him into a fan-favorite among Jazz fans. Utah traded up on draft night specifically to draft Mitchell - likely a wise decision in hindsight.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who was selected ninth overall, ranked second in the survey at 13.5 percent. John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks (19th pick) won 12.2 percent of the vote, while Jordan Bell of the Golden State Warriors (38th pick) earned 10.8 percent.
Others receiving votes: Kyle Kuzma (27th pick), Josh Jackson (fourth pick), Sindarius Thornwell (48th pick), Harry Giles (20th pick), Jonathan Isaac (sixth pick), Monte Morris (51st pick), Davon Reed (32nd pick), Jayson Tatum (third pick).
San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray was named the biggest draft steal prior to last season.