Sacramento Kings: The Davion Mitchell effect

How Davion Mitchell has impacted the Sacramento Kings. 

Through the first three games of the 2021-22 NBA season, the Sacramento Kings sit at 1-2. Losing their last two games against the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors respectively, they have had a difficult schedule out of the gate.

However, these games were atypical of a Kings team – an organization that holds the league’s longest playoff drought at 15 seasons. They held halftime leads in all three contests, even defeating the Portland Trail Blazers on the road in their season opener.

The roster is largely the same as last season with the fringe additions of centers Tristan Thompson and Alex Len. However, rookie Davion Mitchell has the potential to turn around the culture in Sacramento, cementing one of the most talented young backcourts in the league alongside De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton.

Davion Mitchell has shined in his first three games for the Sacramento Kings

The Kings made a questionable decision with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft as they selected Mitchell. Scouts lauded his on-ball defensive potential and impressive shot creation. At 23 years old, he is one of the most known quantities in this rookie class, ready to contribute to a winning team. However, how would he fit in Sacramento with the already talented Fox and Haliburton?

Currently, he is coming off the bench in a sixth-man role, averaging just over 29 minutes a night. He had a slow start on the offensive side of the ball, scoring two and three points in his first two contests, but most recently recorded 22 against Golden State. However, his defense has been much more impressive, earning the nickname “off-night,” as that’s what he gives to his defensive assignment.

He has been thrown to the wolves in these first three games, spending a considerable amount of time on Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell (not related), and Steph Curry – three of the top 10 ball-handlers in the league.

First, according to NBA.com’s advanced box score, Mitchell held Portland to only 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting. Against Lillard specifically, Dame Dolla shot a putrid 1-7 when up against the rookie.

For an encore performance, Mitchell held the NBA’s third-ranked offense based on offensive rating last year to a 4-of-19 shooting performance in over 13 minutes of defense. Davion modeled much of his game after his favorite player, but that didn’t stop him from holding Donovan to six points on 2-of-6 shooting.

In total, the Baylor product has held opponents to 32 points on 12-of-48 shooting from the field – that’s 25 percent. To hold some of the game’s best stars to horrendous offensive performances in your first three games as a pro – it’s indisputable that Mitchell is one of the most skilled rookie defenders in a long time.

He has already improved the King’s historically horrific defense, ranking 30th in the league last year by giving up 117.6 points per 100 possessions. This year, they place 21st, a much more respectable ranking considering their defensive personal and lack of wing defenders.

Kings coach Luke Walton has the difficult task of setting up the backcourt rotation, as Fox, Mitchell, Haliburton, and Buddy Hield all have to play considerable minutes for the team to succeed. Standing at 6-foot-1, it’s a bit of a stretch to have Mitchell defend traditional small forwards, limiting the Kings’ potential lineups even more.

After signing a max contract, Fox is undoubtedly the franchise’s corner piece for the foreseeable future. Haliburton is coming off of a fantastic rookie season, hoping to continue his play into year two. With Mitchell needing to see the floor as well, especially in late-game situations to guard the opposing team’s best player, the Kings are likely looking at a three-guard lineup.

This leaves out Hield, who has spent most of his career in Sacramento but fails to fit the timeline of the young Kings at 28 years old.

To start games, a three-guard lineup might be difficult to justify as the lack-of-size can be taken advantage of by the opposing forwards relatively easily. However, to close games, a lineup of Fox, Mitchell, and Haliburton, along with Harrison Barnes, and Richaun Holmes, can make the Kings exciting again.

Walton has already experimented with that lineup, playing them 14 possessions out of the 305 on the season, to decent success. Hield is only taking away minutes from the three young guards, making a trade more likely for the sharpshooter.

Overall, the Sacramento Kings hit on their pick, despite a questionable fit on draft night. Davion Mitchell is a must-watch every night.