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NBA Season Preview 2018-19: 20 things to watch this NBA season

By Bryan Toporek

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz b brings the ball down court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of Game One of the Western Conference in the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 15, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz b brings the ball down court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of Game One of the Western Conference in the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 15, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

8. Donovan Mitchell’s encore

One year in, it’s safe to say Donovan Mitchell is the steal of the 2017 NBA draft.

The Utah Jazz traded up to select Mitchell at No. 13 overall, and he promptly rewarded them for doing so. The Louisville product led all rookies in scoring with 20.5 points per game on 43.7 percent shooting, and he helped fuel a first-round playoff upset of the Thunder by pouring in 28.5 points per game across their six-game series.

So, what does the Rookie of the Year runner-up have in store for an encore?

“My goal for my rookie season was some solid playing time and average eight points a game,” Mitchell recently told students at a local high school, according to Jody Genessy of the Deseret News. “That was the goal coming into the year, so to go from that to being a finalist for Rookie of the Year was great for me. At the end of the day, I’m not worried about that one. I can never win that award again. We’ve got MVP and try to win the Finals and other things we can win multiple times that I’m going to focus on.”

Good to see he’s setting the bar low.

While a Finals berth and an MVP award may be overly ambitious targets this season, Mitchell can take major strides toward both by improving his efficiency on offense and continuing to play stifling defense. Mitchell profiled as a Patrick Beverley-esque defensive pest coming out of college, although his unexpectedly large offensive role wound up taking attention away from his role as a disruptor.

Given his elite backcourt competition in the Western Conference, it’ll be difficult for Mitchell to earn an All-Star berth this season. But based on how quickly he evolved into a dominant force as a rookie, we can’t rule it out, either.