Knicks Rumors: Five reasons to select Donovan Mitchell in 2017 NBA Draft

Competitive Nature

If there’s one thing that Phil Jackson knows how to spot, it’s a tenacious competitor with a relentless work ethic. Jackson is the legendary head coach who reeled in the polarizing personalities of Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dennis Rodman.

Each one of those feats took a level of mutual understanding.

Jackson, who was the ultimate energy guy for the 1973 NBA champion New York Knicks as a player, will likely learn that Donovan Mitchell is cut from the same cloth from a purely competitive perspective.

Mitchell played college ball for Rick Pitino, who helped Patrick Ewing and the Knicks find their identity. Pat Riley gets most of the credit, but Pitino’s Knicks ranked in the Top 10 in defensive efficiency in each of his two seasons as head coach, including the 52-win campaign in 1988-89.

Mitchell embodies that competitive nature.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Mitchell has foregone traditional individual pre-draft workouts to showcase his defensive prowess in a group setting.

"One other thing worth noting about Mitchell: Many top prospects prefer to work out individually for teams, but Mitchell thus far has eschewed those to instead work out in a group setting, according to sources."

That may seem inconsequential, but it’s a sign of Mitchell’s pride on defense and overall level of competitiveness as a player.

The Knicks desperately need a perimeter player who can be accurately described as a workhorse. That would not only elevate the team’s level of performance on the court, but help build the healthy culture that one could argue has been missing since the 1990s.

Mitchell may or may not realize his star potential, but he’s as safe a bet as any to work his hardest to reach that elusive status.

New York desperately needs a perimeter player with a work ethic that sets a tone in the locker room.