NBA legend with high praise for former Baylor Bear
Rewind the clock to April of 2021: the Baylor Bears are in the finals of March Madness, competing for the program's first national championship in basketball. Matched against a rolling Houston team containing now-NBA players Marcus Sasser and Quentin Grimes, the Bears had their work cut out for them.
Yet, when faced with a challenge, the Bears' star players rose to the occasion, most notably, Davion Mitchell, who finished with a 12-PT and 11-assist double-double. In his final year at Baylor, known for being an all-around player who played tough defense, Mitchell finished the 2021 season averaging 9.0 PTS, 2.0 RBS, and 3.6 AST and was poised to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft. Mitchell went on to get drafted 9th overall to the Sacramento Kings in the 2021 NBA Draft.
NCAA Champ ➡️ NBA Lottery Pick
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 30, 2021
Baylor's Davion Mitchell is headed to the Sacramento Kings at No. 9 overall 👑 pic.twitter.com/SHyiv0k4iU
In his first two seasons with Sacramento, Mitchell put up respectable numbers while fighting for minutes in a crowded backcourt. In his rookie campaign, Mitchell averaged 11.5 PTS, 2.2 RBS, 4.2AST, and 0.7 STL in 27.7 minutes before improving his efficiency in year 2 on a lower average minutes played.
Although his efficiency continued to improve, Mitchell's minutes continued to decrease as the Kings struggled to make a push in the Western Conference playoff picture. Ultimately, on June 27th, 2024, Davion Mitchell was traded to the Toronto Raptors along with Sasha Vezenkov and the 45th pick in exchange for Jalen McDaniels. That, however, wasn't the last trade the would involve Mitchell, who was eventually traded again to the Miami Heat in February of 2025 in exchange for P.J. Tucker, a second-round pick, and cash considerations.
The Toronto Raptors are trading Davion Mitchell to the Miami Heat for PJ Tucker, a second-round pick and cash, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/J9vBISwuh4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
Although Mitchell only played 30 games for the Miami Heat in the 2024-2025 season, he excelled in a larger role for the team, averaging 10.3 PTS, 2.7 RBS, 5.3 AST, and 1.4 STL while shooting 50.4% from the field and 44.7% from 3. Along with his stellar shooting splits, Mitchell's defensive prowess was on full display, continuing to play with the same defensive intensity that helped propel Baylor to its first national championship. Recently, Mitchell's defense was given a shoutout by two-time NBA champion and former NBA MVP Kevin Durant.
NBA legend Kevin Durant has some high praise for former Bear Davion Mitchell, who recently signed a two-year, $24M contract with the Miami Heat:
— Baylor Bears on SicEm365 (@SicEm365) July 11, 2025
"If you're 6'0 or 6’1 and you’re not a bulldog like Davion Mitchell, Jrue Holiday on the defensive side or an offensive savant like… pic.twitter.com/GY8wKCqNkL
Following Mitchell's signing a two-year, $24 million extension with the Miami Heat, Kevin Durant went on to highlight the defensive aptitude of Mitchell, comparing him to five-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection (3x First Team, 2x Second Team) Jrue Holiday. Now going into his fifth season, Davion Mitchell will look to continue to improve on a Miami Heat team that recently traded for NBA veteran Norman Powell and looks to compete in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
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Josh started covering Baylor athletics in July 2025. Prior to Baylor Bears on SI, he worked as an intern for TheMichiganInsider at 247Sports. Josh graduated from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, with a bachelor’s degree in economics, where his passion for collegiate athletics continued to grow after attending his first game in The Big House. Combining his analytical background and his affinity for collegiate sports, Josh enjoys providing his unique perspective on the shifting dynamic equilibrium of the collegiate athletics landscape. When not watching sports, Josh enjoys cooking a nice meal, running, and traveling to new places with his friends and family.