Former Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) looks into the fans as the Utah Jazz and the Boston Celtics play an NBA basketball game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020. Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell is set to play in Wednesday’s game two in the NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at Vivint Arena. But Monday he addressed his frustration over being sat for Sunday’s game one.
“I was definitely frustrated and upset that I wasn’t able to play. I’m a competitor. I felt I was ready to go.” Mitchell said to reporters Monday.
The Jazz training staff made the call to scratch Mitchell just before Sunday’s game one.
“I didn’t expect it, but I’m not a doctor,” he said.
He says he was told about the decision just before the game, and it wasn’t because of one glaring issue with his right ankle.
“Nothing that looked alarming, I will say that. I’m not dragging my right foot along. But no, it was just a bunch of different things [and] they didn’t feel like I was ready,” he said.
But he said part of his frustration was because he felt like he let down his teammates.
“It was unfair to, you know, my team, I was like man I feel like I let them down in a sense. You know, when you’re not there for them in a playoff game. That probably hurts me more than anything else.”
Game two is on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City. It will mark the first time in over a month that Mitchell will suit up for the Jazz after missing the last 17 games with a severe ankle sprain.