Donovan Mitchell is arguably one of the top 10 players in the NBA after another impressive year with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Mitchell has averaged more than 20 points per game in all eight seasons of his career and made six consecutive All-Star Game appearances.
However, the shooting guard may not have become an NBA superstar if not for one impactful moment in high school.
Mitchell recently explained how an injury he suffered years ago led him to choose basketball over baseball.
Mitchell was one of the few aspiring athletes who probably could have gone professional in multiple sports.
The 28-year-old was actually a better baseball player in his youth, but he realized something important when he broke his wrist.
When Mitchell was recovering from his wrist injury, he missed playing basketball more, which led him to focus on that once he returned to full fitness.
“I grew up as a baseball player,” he said. “I really didn’t want to play basketball. If I were gonna go play the pros, it was going to be through baseball.
“In my sophomore year of high school, I broke my wrist, and I just missed basketball more. I stopped playing baseball and pursued basketball.
“In my junior year, I went from four college offers to 26. That’s when I knew that’s the route I’m probably going to take.”
Mitchell was a fan favorite with the Utah Jazz and seemingly had no interest in leaving, but the organization had other ideas.
They traded him to the Cavaliers in the summer of 2022, which he described as a “curveball” that he is now extremely grateful for.
“It threw my life a curveball, in a positive way,” Mitchell added. “There is a certain grit and determination that comes with this city.
“There are moments during a game when you’re going for a hustle play, and you feel the crowd kind of getting behind you on that. You don’t take for granted the love you get around this city.”
