Will Donovan Mitchell surpass Stockton/Malone careers with the Jazz?
- Thread starter oneye
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Jack Strop
Well-Known Member
As an ambassador for the team, state and NBA, Mitchell is already on his way. Adidas is pimping him hard. Malone had what, LA Gear? Stockton never really wanted the spotight. Mitchell owns the red carpet as a rookie. If we're talking solely stats, no, I don't think Mitchell ever comes close to what Karl and John were able to accomplish. Stockton's records for assists and steals are damn near unbreakable. Malone finished as the 2nd-leading scorer of all-time.
If Mitchell attracts another star...if he wins a title, then I think you can say his impact was just as great. But Karl and John made Utah relevant. They, along with Larry H (and Sloan) were what kept the franchise healthy and solvent. Without the excitement and winning that brought fans to the arena, I think the Jazz would have gone the way of the Utah Stars. All of us are familiar with the moves the Jazz had to make under Battistone just to stay in business.
Let's hope in 10-15 years, we're still having this argument. And let's hope Donovan stays in Utah for his career. I'd love nothing more than to see his jersey hanging from the rafters and a statue outside the building (right next to Gobert's, of course).
If Mitchell attracts another star...if he wins a title, then I think you can say his impact was just as great. But Karl and John made Utah relevant. They, along with Larry H (and Sloan) were what kept the franchise healthy and solvent. Without the excitement and winning that brought fans to the arena, I think the Jazz would have gone the way of the Utah Stars. All of us are familiar with the moves the Jazz had to make under Battistone just to stay in business.
Let's hope in 10-15 years, we're still having this argument. And let's hope Donovan stays in Utah for his career. I'd love nothing more than to see his jersey hanging from the rafters and a statue outside the building (right next to Gobert's, of course).
Yep, it was all the east back then, which is why Houston won the 2 championships while Jordan was playing baseball.
Great analysis.
I don’t agree. It’s certainly easier to win before Donovan is on max money, but not impossible after. It’s the best chance to spend money on taking chances, but it’s not like you can’t still draft and trade to assemble a great team. His max contracts coming in 3 years.
Did the Cavaliers championship in 2016 mean the West was not dominant overall?
What does your question matter at all?
His point was that the Jazz sucked so bad they couldn't even win a championship when Jordan was playing baseball in a time when the East was dominant... yet those two years it was the Rockets from the west that won the title. Go ahead and pretend the Jazz had the easy road, while the east teams beat each other up and were tired for the Rockets. How about this idea... the Rockets were dang good those two years. Both of those years it was the Rockets that knocked the Jazz out.
I have another idea. Get stuck on one little point relating to the word dominance and argue on behalf of the trollemine, and ignore the real point of the post.
TIA
My apologies for pointing out you used a bad argument to refute a bad argument.
Not feeling it. It feels fake.
I apologize in advance for pointing out I'm using a fake apology in regards to a fake apology.
There's so many ways to look at this. Donovan won't surpass for either years with the team or individual stats. But he will likely surpass the Big Two in terms of league-wide popularity. He is already bringing in a lot of fans from outside of Utah and a lot of attention to the Jazz, and that will hopefully only increase. If (when) he wins a championship with the Jazz, it will be a tough one to argue. I love my Stockton to Malone, though, so it will take awhile, if ever, for DM to surpass them in my heart.
JimLes
Well-Known Member
Stockton and Malone played in a different time, unfortunately. Here's a crazy thing to consider. Between summer of 1995 and August of 2000, the Jazz were involved in only one trade where a player both left the Jazz and the Jazz received a player. And it was Felton Spencer for two dudes who played 8 minutes combined for the Jazz. Well, and the pick that was used to select Kirilenko, but he would debut 5 years later.
That boggles the mind. Can you imagine that nowadays? Can you imagine a team that just won 64 games and lost a Final series where they were only outscored by 4 points over the series today not having all kinds of disgruntled players wanting to join? Forcing trades? Buyouts? What have you? In 1997, Chris Morris' was entering the last year of his contract and would completely lose his place on the team. He was due to make 3 million. Mitch Richmond was also due to make 3 million that year. The Kings had won an average of 29 games over the preceding decade and had made the playoffs once. They'd win 27 games in 1998. Richmond would put up 23-4-3. Shoot 39% from being the arc. He was also 32. You're telling me that if this all happened today, he would not pull a Kyrwhi and force his way to the Jazz? Chris Morris' expiring deal, Shandon Anderson, and the Jazz first round picks in 1999 and 2000. That Kings team would be drafting first next year like nobody's business. Being Kings, they'd take Olowokandi, but still.
Nowadays, there'd be so much opportunity for stuff like this. Back then, it was just Danny Mannings, Olden Polynices and John Starkses on the free. Some 10 years past their expiry dates.
That boggles the mind. Can you imagine that nowadays? Can you imagine a team that just won 64 games and lost a Final series where they were only outscored by 4 points over the series today not having all kinds of disgruntled players wanting to join? Forcing trades? Buyouts? What have you? In 1997, Chris Morris' was entering the last year of his contract and would completely lose his place on the team. He was due to make 3 million. Mitch Richmond was also due to make 3 million that year. The Kings had won an average of 29 games over the preceding decade and had made the playoffs once. They'd win 27 games in 1998. Richmond would put up 23-4-3. Shoot 39% from being the arc. He was also 32. You're telling me that if this all happened today, he would not pull a Kyrwhi and force his way to the Jazz? Chris Morris' expiring deal, Shandon Anderson, and the Jazz first round picks in 1999 and 2000. That Kings team would be drafting first next year like nobody's business. Being Kings, they'd take Olowokandi, but still.
Nowadays, there'd be so much opportunity for stuff like this. Back then, it was just Danny Mannings, Olden Polynices and John Starkses on the free. Some 10 years past their expiry dates.