Iona males’s basketball coach Rick Pitino mentioned he hopes Donovan Mitchell winds up with the Knicks. Apparently, so does Mitchell, who performed for Pitino at Louisville from 2015 to 2017.
Pitino cited the very fact Mitchell’s household nonetheless lives within the tristate space: his mom works for Greenwich (Conn.) Nation Day College and his father works within the Mets’ entrance workplace.
“Donovan loves the Knicks,’’ Pitino mentioned. “Donovan loves being round his mother, sister and pop. Donovan would treasure being a Knick. That being mentioned, issues should work out. I’m hoping, protecting my fingers crossed that he turns into a Knick. It will be very particular for me as a coach seeing him in a Knick uniform as an ex-Knick coach.”
Pitino, who coached the Knicks within the late Nineteen Eighties and has been at Iona since 2020, mentioned he was rooting for former group president Phil Jackson to draft Mitchell, a Westchester County native, with the eighth choose of the 2017 draft. As an alternative, the Zen Grasp went with Frank Ntilikina, whose NBA profession has been a bust, and the Jazz chosen Mitchell with the Thirteenth-overall choose.
Knicks president Leon Rose has an opportunity to proper the unsuitable by buying and selling for Mitchell, however he is in a stalemate with Utah group president Danny Ainge over the variety of unprotected draft picks to incorporate in a deal. Ainge is telling confidants two different groups have made affords he likes.
That will be a disgrace, Pitino mentioned, as a result of the 25-year-old Mitchell could possibly be the toast of Broadway and would embrace the tough New York highlight.
“Everyone knows Donovan may be very proficient on offense, however Donovan is as proficient as polished a human being as any particular person I’ve ever met,’’ Pitino mentioned on a convention name touting Iona’s newly launched non-conference schedule. “A really well-educated younger man who is aware of the whole lot proper to say. However he’s extremely, extremely aggressive. He’ll do something to win a basketball recreation. However when the sport is over and the mikes are all in his face, it's important to cope with the media in a optimistic approach. Donovan can be excellent in that, simply terrific at that.’’
A commerce for Mitchell would align him with new level guard Jalen Brunson in a backcourt probably stuffed with fireworks, nevertheless undersized.
“Brunson and Donovan Mitchell, that’s a helluva backcourt,’’ Pitino mentioned. “Each are winners. They each are terrific folks. I hope it occurs actually. It will be nice for the Knicks and everyone who follows the Knicks.’’
The Put up reported some within the group have concern a beginning lineup together with Mitchell, Brunson, RJ Barrett and Julius Randle would comprise too many ball-dominant gamers — and all however Mitchell are left-handers.
“That’s for Thibs to determine, not me,’’ Pitino mentioned of Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. “Donovan can be an amazing addition. You're employed issues out. How does [Kevin] Durant, Kyrie [Irving] play collectively? There’s a variety of a number of offensive gamers. Thibs will work it out. He’s been round a very long time [and is] an impressive coach.
“[Mitchell is] a terrific offensive offensive basketball participant. He’s all the time working to get higher. His work ethic is phenomenal. He’s a obtained a Kobe Bryant-type work ethic. That’s the very best praise I pays.’’
Pitino possessed Knicks season tickets for a very long time, however now not is a subscriber.
“I'll name World Large Wes [Knicks executive William Wesley] as quickly as [Mitchell is] named to get me nice tickets,’’ Pitino mentioned.
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