Donovan Mitchell gave a solid clapback to a Twitter user who trolled him for an 8-second violation. The Utah Jazz guard dropped a record 57 points in an overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets.
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It is tough to play a completely blemishes game in the NBA on the best of days. Donovan Mitchell certainly was having one of those perfect outings when he switched off for a bit, late in the 4th quarter. Bringing the ball up the court took him longer than the allowed 8 seconds, leading to a violation call.
Donovan Mitchell’s 8:46 Black Lives matter message
But nitpicking with such a performance is something only the most partisan people would do. Twitter user Jamie Krolczyk seems to fall in that category. Using a play on the ‘Black Lives Matter’ message the NBA is conveying, he engaged in banter saying ‘8 seconds matter’.
Donovan Mitchell was not to be deterred, however. The NBA has taken its social justice movement very seriously, and the players have the Twitter game to do that well. Mitchell responded with ‘8 minutes 46 seconds matters’ – that being the duration that a police officer had his knee placed on George Floyd’s neck.
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In the light of how the likes of Kevin Durant have used the platform, Mitchell’s reasoned take seems really mature. He didn’t have to reply to the troll, and in replying he could certainly have been a lot harsher. But he kept the message that the league has gotten behind foremost, and we should applaud him for his mindset.
Mitchell and the Utah Jazz next play the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their first round playoff series on Wednesday. He will be looking to continue to score and dominate proceedings in the same vein as in Game 1. Without the 8-second violation, of course.
Donovan Mitchell’s response to 8 second violation
The Utah Jazz star took complete responsibility for the 8 second violation, which was clearly a brain freeze on his part. He emphasised on how he should have thought clearly and that point and how one little lapse of concentration could have cost them the game.
“That’s my fault as a leader and as a point guard at that time,” Mitchell said. “That’s terrible on my part.
“I kind of put that … there’s really no one else to put it on. I was just taking my time walking it up, and I’ve got to be more aware. I think that was a crucial part of the game. At the end of the day, I’m not going to put it all on that one play, but that was a crucial part.” he added.
