Donovan Mitchell brushes off injury scare: ‘I was just being a baby’
Donovan Mitchell is not about to let injury kill his vibe during his first career trip to the postseason.
The Utah Jazz rookie gave quite a scare on Sunday in Game 1 of the team’s first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the fourth quarter of the 116-108 loss, Mitchell got his left foot stepped on by OKC’s Corey Brewer and had to go to the locker room. He returned to the contest shortly thereafter though after being spotted on the bench begging to be let back in.
Donovan Mitchell appeared to suffer a foot injury and went to the locker room…
He was on the bench pleading to go back into the game
(via @clippittv) pic.twitter.com/pOJ61Trpb5
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 16, 2018
Addressing reporters afterwards, Mitchell downplayed concerns about the injury and said that it was just a stubbed toe. When asked about his limp at the time that caused him to come out of the game, the Louisville product said that he was “just being a baby,” according to Sam Gannon of KOKH Fox 25.
Donovan Mitchell says he's fine, stubbed his toe.
— Sam Gannon (@SamGannon87) April 16, 2018
Donovan Mitchell says coaches saw him limping so they thought he needed to come out, but says, "No, I was just being a baby."
— Sam Gannon (@SamGannon87) April 16, 2018
Despite the episode, Mitchell still managed to play 35 minutes, leading the Jazz in both points (27) and rebounds (10). He will have two full days to recover before Wednesday’s Game 2 and may need them given that stubbed toes are still no joke (as one of his Louisville contemporaries can attest to).