In the NBA, there is definitely some benefit to playing in a larger market. A lot of players who play for franchises located in cities like Los Angeles get more attention from national media, which can lead to more recognition and fame for the player among fans.
Donovan Mitchell is one of the best shooting guards in the league, and his production on the offensive end has been a huge reason for the Utah Jazz’s success in recent years. Currently, Mitchell is averaging 25.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 5.1 APG.
Despite his amazing play, Donovan Mitchell does not get the same recognition as other stars who are playing at a similar level. That could potentially be due to him playing for a smaller franchise. In fact, Tim MacMahon has claimed that there is “speculation around the league” that Donovan Mitchell does in fact care about market size.
“I think that it’s a little bit different situation in Salt Lake City with Donovan Mitchell just because there is, I’m gonna say, at least speculation around the league that market size might matter to him,”
Playing for a larger market may help boost a player’s presence in the media, but winning at a high level has the same result. In fact, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the most popular players in the league for a while, and his championship win in 2021 only boosted his popularity among fans. Perhaps if the Utah Jazz win the championship, we’ll see Donovan Mitchell get the respect and attention that he deserves.
The Utah Jazz are currently the 3rd seed in the Western Conference, and they are only 2 wins behind the 2nd seeded Golden State Warriors. There have already been suggestions that they are currently being overlooked as legitimate contenders. Only time will tell how well they do, but the Utah Jazz are obviously one of the best teams in the league.
