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SALT LAKE CITY — Donovan Mitchell was already feeling a little nostalgic as he entered the visitor tunnel nearly three hours before launch. He wanted to take a quiet moment to reflect on all the memories from playing Vivint Arena and let the emotions wash over him before snapping back into place.
He got help with that. On the video boards hanging over the plaza, Mitchell got a preview of the video tribute the Jazz would play for him.
There he was with his “bad” hair on draft night, shaking with excitement at coming to Utah. His rookie season included the Game 6 win over Oklahoma City. There was his dunk contest win, his historic bubble run, his pregame shoe gift, and so many other things that helped tie his five-year run with jazz.
The memories started flowing.
“So much good has been done in this building,” Mitchell said. “You just want to see it and just ponder it and let it play before you go back into play mode because you have to appreciate it.”
Leading up to the game, there was a mystery as to how he would be received by jazz fans.
On the one hand, Mitchell had taken the Jazz out of one of the franchise’s lowest states and given it contender status. On the downside, some fans were upset that Mitchell said it was “straining” at times to be black in Utah; They felt that Utah was unfairly painted with a broad brush.
However, as the arena filled, it was pretty clear he wasn’t the only one appreciating his time in Utah. The tribute video was met by thunderous applause, and when Mitchell was announced on Cleveland’s starting lineup, he received a standing ovation. Sure, there were a small number of boos scattered about the crowd, but these were easily drowned out by everyone else’s enthusiasm.
For Mitchell, it was almost as if nothing had changed: He was back at Vivint Arena with fans wearing his jersey and shouting his name; This time he was just across the square.
“When I got[the ovation]it was like a regular jazz game — like you’ve been here and the support and love you’re getting is second to none,” he said. “I was grateful. It could have gone either way, of course, and it went in the right direction I feel and I appreciate that.”
Mitchell was certainly comfortable in his old homeland as he scored 46 points against his former team. But even as he did, the crowd was in his corner. There were polite cheers and gasps of astonishment as he showed the home Utah crowd exactly what they’d been missing out on since Jazz sent him to Cleveland in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji and future picks.
Mitchell went 14-to-27 from the field, finishing with six assists, five rebounds and three steals. He hit seven 3-pointers and made numerous highlight reel drives. But it was a miss that highlighted the connection between Mitchell and the Vivint Arena crowd.
In the third quarter, Mitchell landed an airball shot, and fans playfully mocked him like an old friend. Mitchell smiled at the light-hearted ripping and even goaded it by raising his hand and gesturing at the crowd.
When the game was over – and after hugging his former teammates, coaches and other members of the organizations – Mitchell left the field to a final loud cheer from those still in the arena.
The whole night was like a collective thank you to Mitchell; and Mitchell is hopeful that positive energy will be what defines his relationship with jazz fans and the evolving state.
“I hope it’s like tonight, like it’s always been,” Mitchell said. “I really want to point out the fact that when I speak out about what I speak, I’m not speaking against anyone. I think that’s something that gets lost in the clutter, but it is what it is.”
That doesn’t mean Mitchell will stop standing up for the things he believes in. He’s proud of the conversations he’s started in the Utah community and is committed to speaking for those who don’t have such a high-profile platform. However, he said some had twisted his words or, worse, made things up. “There are things I see and hear (that are attributed to me) that I have not addressed.”
“I will not stop using my voice as I see fit,” he said.
While there were doubts about the reception in the stands, there was no question that there would only be love on the pitch.
“I’m sure we’ll laugh and joke before the game and fight in the middle of the game,” said Mike Conley after the shortaround on Tuesday morning.
That was pretty accurate. Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson went toe-to-toe, trading big shots in the fourth quarter (Mitchell finished the last quarter at 17, Clarkson at 15), but Conley also missed something — lots and lots of hugs.
“There’s never going to be another game where I keep hugging another guy mid-game,” Mitchell said. “It’s a 4-point game in the fourth quarter; that never happens. I will never, ever do that, but how JC grabbed me and I grabbed him because at the end of the day we’re blessed to play this game together as a group; we are blessed to be in this position. And you know, there are so many memories you have of just playing together.
They’ve also created quite a few memories since the trade. For example, when Mitchell called Conley after each of Utah’s early wins to joke that “I knew I was the problem.” You can add Tuesday’s reunion to the list.
Mitchell stayed on court after last buzzer to exchange enthusiastic pleasantries with his former teammates and bask in the moment. When he finally made his way to the same tunnel where he’d been standing hours earlier, he patted his chest and motioned to the cheering crowd.
He now has another Vivint Arena moment to get nostalgic about.
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Ryan Miller has covered the Utah Jazz for KSL.com since 2018.