Two weeks ago, Donovan Mitchell looked unlikely to make the Team USA roster for September’s FIBA World Cup.
Mitchell ranked fourth or fifth among Team USA shooting guards in terms of experience, behind Houston’s James Harden and Eric Gordon, Washington’s Bradley Beal, and Portland’s C.J. McCollum. If the 22-year-old Jazzman was to make the 12-man squad, it needed to be on the back of his defensive efforts as a role player.
“The thing that we’re looking for is defense, and he has the ability to be a real factor,” Team USA Jerry Colangelo said then.