All stars listen to him Donovan Mitchell He trained Thursday for the first time since his right ankle was injured more than a month ago and plans to play in the first match of the Utah Jazz Qualifiers.
Mitchell said: “This is the goal.” “Barring any setback, God forbid, hitting wood, that’s the goal. I’m just trying to get out and be there for my teammates and try to help win the championship. That’s the goal. It was the goal all year.” .
Mitchell, who averaged 26.4 points and 5.2 assists per game this season, missed the last 16 games as the jazz team finished (52-20) the best record in the NBA and ranked first overall.
Utah will open the playoffs on Sunday at home against the winner of the Western Conference play match between the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mitchell suffered the injury on April 16 against the Indiana Pacers when he jumped to try to deflect a long pass outward and fell awkwardly with his foot under Indiana guard, Edmond Sumner.
Mitchell has stepped up his career on the field in the past two weeks, staying at Salt Lake City as the team was en route to training with assistant coach Keon Duling, but he did not participate in a full competitive action until Thursday. Mitchell said she still had some ankle discomfort, but didn’t experience any major pain.
“It was good practice,” said Mitchell. “I went out and competed. It sure felt like the first time in four or five weeks, but that was expected. I’m trying to find ways to get back to normal.”