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Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell has one of the most recognizable nicknames in the NBA.
Mitchell was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz as the 13th overall pick. Prior to joining the NBA, Mitchell played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals and was named first-team all-conference in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2017. It was during this time that he received his famous nickname from a friend and former teammate’s father, who likened him to a spider because of his long arms and the ability to steal the ball from unlikely positions.
Spida was selected by the Utah Jazz after showing potential in college and proved to be a valuable player, with an average of 20.5 points per game in his first season, 23.8 points per game in his second season, and 24 points per game in his third season. In addition to his regular season success, Mitchell also won the Slam Dunk Contest in his rookie season.
Speaking about his nickname, Mitchell said the following:
“I had long arms, and I was quick to getting a lot of steals. I didn’t think it would correlate to where I am now. He never called me by my first name, and to this day, he still doesn’t. He’ll text me, ‘Spida, how ya doing?’ Spiderman was one of my favorites growing up, and it just stuck with me. That’s where it all came from.”
Donovan Mitchell staring at third-straight All-Star appearance?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the standout teams in the NBA this season. The team has a young, exciting core. Donovan Mitchell, 26, is well on track for his third-straight All-Star appearance in his first Cavaliers season. The guard is averaging a career-high 29.3 points along with 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds. He has considerably improved his shooting efficiency this season (58.6% from 53.3%) and is also producing his best numbers from the 3-point zone.
At this rate, there is little doubt that Mitchell is a shoe-in for another NBA All-Star appearance. He is converting almost four of his 9.3 3-point attempts per game and has led his team with authority.
Mitchell also has an impressive supporting cast with the 23-year-old Darius Garland also averaging more than 21 points per game. The two form an impressive backcourt and are the driving force behind their team’s success this season.
Guess the Lakers players!
