One of the most underrated rotation pieces to this revamped Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Miami Heat team is Davion Mitchell. And he’s primed for another leap in his game.
Mitchell was acquired by Miami in the aftermath of the Jimmy Butler trade back at the 2024 trade deadline. He is coming off his first full season with the Heat last year, in which he averaged 9.3 points, a career-high 6.5 assists and one steal per game on efficient 49% shooting and nearly 40% from 3-point range. He appeared in 70 games and was the starting point guard for each of them, averaging over 28 minutes of playing time per game.
He has been healthy, reliable and consistent as a key lineup piece under coach Erik Spoelstra ever since his trade arrival. Last year, he especially flourished as the “head of the snake” in running the teams offense— and remained with the starters even when both Tyler Herro and Norman Powell were available.
Mitchell has quickly developed into a fan and coaching favorite of Spoelstra’s with his tenacious point of attack defense on the perimeter. His continuously growing offensive game makes him a candidate to keep developing as a core rotation piece in Miami’s system.
Davion Mitchell has been putting in the work this offseason
There has been arguably no Heat player that has put in more offseason work than Mitchell this summer, at least publicly.
Mitchell has been documenting his training regimen regularly across his Instagram account feed and stories— including daily weight lifting, cardio, and hooping sessions. Additionally, he met up with Antetokounmpo in Greece to get training session’s in with the new Heat superstar.
Mitchell is notoriously known for traveling everywhere while holding a basketball. The commitment to his craft has been undeniable, and the Heat are happy to have him. The 27-year-old guard is entering the second season of a team friendly two-year $11 million deal that he signed with Miami last summer.
If he takes another leap in his game, it could do wonders to this Heat team’s depth.
He has the exact mold— the gritty defensive chops, 3-point shot making ability, increased playmaking— similarly to Jrue Holiday. Of course, Antetokounmpo won a championship with Holiday and that exact skill set at the starting point guard position with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
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This article is a perfect time to discuss something about us, the posters, more than the team. I’m coming from a place where I love Davion, as almost all of us do, and I would never want to lose him. But, he is a limited offensive player, and we have had this discussion many times that the one way great defender is just as unideal as the one way great scorer. Will Davion continue to improve? Possibly, especially as he makes concerted efforts to do so. He is already better than a Highsmith level offensive threat, but nowhere near a Jrue Holiday.
But, I want to talk about something else, the leaps of faith we are asked to take on this site, the hoping that players will improve, like Jovic for the fourth time. At HHH, (and I agree it’s very nice and I like to do it too), the prevailing well received mood is one of optimism, sometimes unrealistically so. In this site, if you want to be liked and responded to positively, find something nice to say about the GM, the Coach, or the players. I’m glad we are like this as these players are almost always trying their best and only rarely are mercenary and self serving in their approach. Kyle Lowry, in my opinion, was an exception. And you see, I just said something not nice. But, that’s what I really think, if I’m being honest. Sometimes, but not that often, the optimism gets to me and I want to hear some criticisms, as long as they are honest and reasonable. I’d rather take the slings and arrows of dissent than always be optimistic and positive. Having said all that, I doubt Jovic ever makes it and I think the great Riley was an idiot for signing Jovic’s contract. And that’s despite my extreme appreciation for his bringing in Giannis. And finally, you can be positive about some things and negative about others and it doesn’t mean your inconsistent.
So, now I said it and I feel better. Have a little compassion and understanding for the occasional naysayer.
Thats a very interesting post. It somehow related with what kind of people we are.
I can speak only by myself, but I like opinions supported with facts rather then positive because of positivisms it selves. I can agree with negative comments, if they are supported with facts.
So if somebody says, that Nico sucks, thats something I can agree with, because its true. The claim, that Riley is an idiot because of signing Niko ,is true at the moment, but as a born optimist, I still believe, that this can be different in future, which, we all now, is not very likely. But one can hope, and I will have hope until there wont be any hope left.
Thats a moment for me to give a very negative comment about both, Niko and Riley.
So its just about timing.
I thank you for your thoughtful response. I have found you to be more direct and forthcoming with your unvarnished opinions lately and I have gotten a lot out of the things you have been contributing lately.
I guess my main thrusts of my comments are for people to not be afraid that the negativity police will deride you if you have a critical comment to make.
Time will usually tell on many of these situations, but often we do try to predict the future and sometimes our opinions are more gut feelings, based partially on facts and also on previous experience, as sometimes all the stats don’t give enough information to be sure of anything. And sometimes, even after a long time, the results are moot, or stay pending.
The encouragement we give these players will always be tempered by the desire to win games. And many times, the win/loss record is the best arbiter of reality.
i put myself out there with predictions jovic never make it here be great in europe said that years agobros just to quick for him .that one looks correct.hope im wrong better happen soon with him.i believe keshad is a better nba prospect but never got a fair look.believe im right on that but we’ill never know.homer calls me mr negative just predicting little before final verdicts in.its called having a feeling about a player.
A little before final verdict? LOL! Years of ripping Riley multiple times every thread until he makes the biggest move of the offseason, and then it’s all kumbaya. Criticism is fine. It can be the best way to improve a team or a life. As I’ve said, you may be right about Jovic. The contract was way premature. But if he turns out to be a decent player, it’ll be just like when you maligned Jaquez for an entire season until he proved himself the next season. And also as I’ve said, you can call me Homer – it’s a lot better in my world than being a part time, fair weather only, supposed fan. Only love a team when they’re doing well? Not a real fan in my book.
Hear hear
Direct and unvarnished is more like an continental European thing, in the way how we communicate.
Americans (and Brits too) often prefers to avoid direct confrontation or arguing about things, by changing the theme, by trying to make it looks different or just getting silent.
Its a kind of cultural difference. So some here might find some of my posts here unusual or even insulting.
Its a basketball fans forum, nothing more, nothing less. Everybody have the right to express the opinion in any way they like. But what to like or dislike, is everybody’s personal choice.
A lot to address.
Were you at your best at 23? Maybe you and others are right about Jovic, but he seems to have made some strides. This is the year we will know. He doesn’t need to be great, only decent. And I still believe playing with a dominant big man, one who personally reached out to him, will give him a confidence boost. I, however, am not confident, just hopeful.
I have been here a long time and this site has always had praise and criticism.
You talk about unrealistic optimism. How about obsessive pessimism? For 2 years, you were one of the most negative people here. Then it was unbridled exuberance when they got Giannis. I guess Riley wasn’t totally incompetent after all.
Now it is discounting Mitchell before the season starts. He improved as the season progressed and has busted his butt this offseason to improve. He had one of the best assist to turnover ratios in the league, better than 4 to 1. You don’t think he can score 4 more points a game to up his average to 13 or 14? I do.
When you have a life partner, you want that person to stand by you in the worst of times – when you lose your job or do something stupid that gets you in trouble. It’s easy for someone to be supportive when the money is pouring in and the good times are rolling. But that ain’t loyalty. And I feel the same about sports.
Hang loose. We all do it, depending on the time of month. A fan shouldn’t be blinded by loyalty. We all need to use our own logic and experience to objectively distinguish between the good, the bad and the ugly. We don’t all think the same. Differences of opinions are going to happen.
very well said fellow hi tider im the biggest heat fan there is sports fan to some guy on here thinks because i criticize players and coaches im not a heat fan,fathest from the truth not sure he knows me that well.
From the guy who said more than once that if the Heat didn’t do this or that you’d be out of here. Yeah, “the biggest Heat fan there is”.
kawhi investigation disclosed had a contract with daktronics whats wrong with that not understanding hes a pro not a college guy.
cause it was undisclosed?so disclose it.?
The issue was the Clippers funneling money to that company and that company funneling millions to Kawhi as a way to get around the salary cap. But, yeah, my comments are not informative.
I still think that he cant be a starting point guard for a champion level team. But I may be wrong. We will see.
think your right he might be one of the worst starting pg on champ team if we win it all.hes an average player.15 better 14 worse.when u have greek type player sht like that can happen vagi.need a norm powell type 2 g to get jewelry.wait wasnt he on our team last year.that 16 mil niko contract pat would love a do over.nice job pat.he got greek so hes ok.wait he paid dunc.wait he let herro go.the good and bad of pat
Niko will hit you next season with 6th player of the year title.
youve been taking 2q drugs?
Nope, local stuff… 2q is saving his stuff for final push.. Niko for MVP.
slovenian ?
Shh. All in due time.
He was 41st of 291 guards in the NBA last year (a list including Scottie Barnes, Luka etc) in plus minus at +202. Which is pretty impressive considering the Heat were an average team, 13th at +191, and most of the players above him were either max contract guys or role players on 50-60 win teams.
when u average under 10 pts that just aint gonna cut it unless your dramond green or dennis rodman
Just think…the guy was a throw-in on a trade. He’s a dog for sure. Heat defensively will be downright scary at times this season.
I think Davion is still developing into a very good PG. He has never been in an environment where he could spread his wings and reveal his true talents. His defense is outstanding and his playmaking and 3-point shooting are very good. I see him kicking it a notch this season, especially his assists, running game and 3-point shooting.
DAVION IS A KEEPER!!! PLEASE DO NOT TRADE HIM PAT!!!
single digit scoring cant happen anymore though need more pts from davdog
He will score more this season and you’ll be the first one to jump back on the bandwagon and act like you discovered him.
pg most important position on nba team wish we had a better one.he will have to do for now but if we could get jrue holiday that would be an upgrade
He is an all around improvement over the ones who got us to the 2020 & 2023 finals. If Miami doesn’t reach the finals, it won’t be because Davion didn’t do his job. His defense, playmaking, assist to turnover ration and 3 point shooting are all good. He just needs to shoot more and get in a groove feeding assists to Giannis and Bam.
going against maxey brunson thats a negative 15-20pts each night.
Just making up numbers now.
True. He is an unselfish team player who needs to be more assertive offensively. He should focus more on getting his ppg up. After all, he’s coming up on a contract extension next year. Selfishness is cool. Everyone does it. He should too.
he takes unselfish to another level needs to be more selfish.get some herro in him
Better that than a ball hog. He can be encouraged to shoot more.
I have been saying the same as this article is saying. I believe Mitchell will show improvement in every offensive measure this season. His work ethic and commitment are testament to his dedication. I don’t know if anyone has worked harder this offseason.
Also appreciate the article title that Davion is a young guard. Only 5 years in the NBA, seems like longer. Was basically written off completely early in his career as a draft bust and non-NBA player, which seems hard to believe now.
Comparison to the 2021 Milwaukee team is really interesting. #6 offense, #10 defense in regular season that year, added PJ Tucker at deadline, won the title with the #1 playoff defense and #11 offense. Not sure I see direct 1-1 comparisons to Jrue and Middleton on the Miami team but Bam is the best player Giannis will have played with in his career, and Jrue and Khris were awesome.
Main thing that Milwaukee team had vs this Heat team was shooting, they were #5 in 3PT% that year. Miami was #11 last year and also average in 3PA volume. Otherwise the defensive talent on this team is close to that Milwaukee team IMO.
peak jrue better than bam.dame better than bam,
2x All-Star, 6x all-defense Jrue Holiday who averaged over 20 ppg one season in his career is better than Bam? What makes him better?
heatforlife says so.
LMAO! I was going to say that! (Uh oh, I responded to another of your comments. The etiquette correctness expert may be here any moment)
As much as I like Davion, Jrue Holiday had far more offensive skill in his prime, so much so that it renders the comparison incongruous
Do you have an extra $34.8M laying around? Champagne tastes on a beer budget.
True, Mitchell may never reach Jrue’s level, but he certainly can improve.