Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz hosted the Houston Rockets on Monday and the three-time NBA All-Star left with a strong impression of their young core, particularly Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.
Mitchell scored a game-high 30 points, seven assists and six rebounds to lead the Jazz to the 135-101 victory, their sixth straight win. On the other side, Green had 13 points while Porter finished with eight points, eight assists and four rebounds.
Green and Porter represent a big part of the future in Houston. Of course, Green was the second pick last year while the Rockets acquired Porter, the 30th pick in 2019, from the Cleveland Cavaliers. They both have shown glimpses of being able to lead the franchise.
Mitchell acknowledged the talent level of both players and believes they each have a bright future ahead. He offered the two players some advice after their matchup.
I have never been on a team that has lost as much but I said to them: ‘Don’t build losing habits.’ Obviously, that comes from the coach as well but there are times where it can be like, ‘Here we go again,’ because you have a rough record. So, continue to find ways to stay engaged, find your purpose, find the motivation to keep working on stuff.
Those two are extremely talented, and as they get better, the team will get better. They got some great pieces and they have a great coach over there in (Stephen) Silas. They can go get it. Now, it’s a matter of finding ways to form winning habits. That is tough to learn at a young age when you’re not necessarily winning.
Green was selected to participate in the NBA Rising Stars game on Friday as part of All-Star Weekend after averaging 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He will also compete in the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday, along with Cole Anthony, Obi Toppin and Juan Toscano-Anderson.
Porter is also viewed as a key player moving forward. He is averaging 13.7 points, 6.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals on 38% shooting from 3-point range this season. He has shown flashes of being a player that can take over games with his scoring and passing ability.
Certainly, Green and Porter have drawn high praise from their peers around the league with Mitchell the latest to weigh in. They haven’t scratched the surface in terms of their potential and that could be scary for the rest of the league.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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