Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz voted as top rookie by his peers

The results are in for this year’s Player’s Voice awards. Even if Ben Simmons wins the Rookie of the Year award that is voted on by media members, Donovan Mitchell will be seen as the true rookie of the year by those who know best: the ones that have to face him on the court for 48 minutes. Donovan Mitchell was voted as “Leader of the New School” by his peers. According to the NBPA, this award goes to “the rookie who rose to the occasion and proved they are a star in the making.”

Donovan Mitchell won this award over the likes of Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum and Kyle Kuzma. Pretty big deal for a guy who was drafted in the late lottery. More importantly, this adds to the credibility of the NBA players who have said what Donovan Mitchell was doing in Utah all season was more impressive: leading a team as the primary offensive weapon and being the sole focus of an opposing team’s game plan as a rookie.

We saw him getting respect all season long from opposing players.

Donovan Mitchell has already been named a finalist for Rookie of the Year and was named 1st team All-Rookie Team. Throughout the season he was the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for the months of December, January, February, and March/April. He also carried the Utah Jazz offensively in the 1st round of the NBA Playoffs to a series win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The NBA Awards Show will be aired on June 25th.