Lakers: Where do Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma rank among the top 10 rookies?

2. Donovan Mitchell

• 19.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.4 blocks, 1.4 steals

I can preach about Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma all I want but there is still no denying who the best two rookies are this season. The NBA Rookie of the Year award seemed to be a shoo-in a few months ago. Now, Donovan Mitchell has emerged as a popular candidate to take home the award.

As great as Mitchell has been, I still think he is the second-best rookie of this season. But don’t get me wrong, Mitchell and the number one guy on this list are on an entirely different level.

Mitchell essentially stole the title of the best sleeper right from Kyle Kuzma’s hand. Yes, Kuzma was nearly a second-round pick and Mitchell was a lottery pick. It is hard to call a lottery pick a sleeper. However, 12 teams passed on the best rookie in this year’s draft class. Just imagine if the 76ers went with Mitchell instead of Markelle Fultz!

Mitchell helped cushion the loss of Gordon Hayward and has kept the Utah Jazz in playoff contention. The Jazz are currently the tenth-seed in the West, however, they are tied with the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.

Mitchell is special. He has that rare ability to put a team on his back and carry the load with a huge performance. He has become a consistent 20 points per night scorer and has scored 30 or more six times. Mitchell has dropped 40 or more two times.

He is special.