Donovan Mitchell missed a significant amount of time during the regular season with an ankle sprain. A couple of months ago, I spoke with former Los Angeles Lakers trainer Marco Nunez about Mitchell’s injury.
“When I hear significant I am thinking a second or third degree sprain. If he is only going to be a significant as they speculated at first. The way he was feeling innitially and then the swelling went down, and he is feeling better. However, he will be re-evaluted and see where he is at, and he can return to play,” said Nunez.
“If they say it is an ankle sprain, but if they don’t say it’s a first, second, or third degree ankle sprain. If it is a first degree, he would be out one to two weeks, and if its a second or third. He could be out four to six weeks or longer. So, with them saying that is only a week it is not significant.”
Before the injury, Mitchell was a ‘Dark Horse’ candidate to win the MVP award.
On Wednesday, former ten-year veteran Jared Jefferies shared on Clubhouse in the Courtside with Dukes room. That Mitchell would probably of been MVP, if it wasn’t for the injury he suffered.
Earlier this season, NBA champion Shawn Marion shared that Mitchell would be the MVP if the Jazz finished with the league’s best record.
“You know what is crazy about that if they end up with the best record in the league, yep,” said Marion.
Mitchell averaged 26.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Jazz in 53 games.
About the Author
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
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