Davion Mitchell ready to ‘change the game’ regardless of role with Heat

MIAMI – With The Miami Heat have championship aspirations this upcoming season, one of the players on the team who believes their status as a contender is quarterback Davion Mitchell. While Mitchell helps The heat reaches the standard that they have set for themselves, he talked about the multitude of roles he could play in the upcoming season.

Tyler Herro‘s the injury led to many questions on what the rotations will look like come the regular season opener on Oct. 22 against the Orlando Magic. While the starting frontcourt appears to be between Nikola Jovic and Kel’el Ware paired with Bama Adebayo, the backcourt is also interesting.

Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins will likely play two and three, but who will play point guard? Two names come to mind in Mitchell and Drew Smith coming back from his Achilles injury. Whoever is selected, Mitchell would say in an exclusive interview with ClutchPoints on Thursday that he doesn’t care if he starts or not, his only goal is to “go in there and change the game.”

“I’m trying to go in there and change the game,” Mitchell said. “If I start, try to start and change the game…But if I come off the bench, just bring a new energy. I kind of just pick up the pace. If the first group is playing well and they’re a little sluggish, try to change the game.”

Admirable, but it seems to be human nature for a player in the NBA to want to start for his team, but for Mitchell, it’s different. He has previously been used as a starter or on the bench in Miami, although he was used to the second unit with his original team in the Sacramento Kings, when De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Halliburton were on the team.

The Heat’s Davion Mitchell on returning from injury and hitting the second unit

The The heat shield comes from a leaf injury suffered during training camp at Florida Atlantic University, causing him to miss practices and the first few preseason games. Back without restrictions, Mitchell would tell ClutchPoints that he’s “feeling a lot better” and how the preseason helped his comeback.

“Yeah, I’m doing good,” Mitchell said. “They make me stronger. These preseason games are really good and stretch my legs.”

Mitchell has become a key piece in head coach Erik Soelstra’s rotation, serving as either the point guard who sets up the starters or ignites the second unit. In addition to his playmaking ability, he’s a defensive stalwart who fits the system, just as you could argue Mitchell is best suited to the second unit, a group of players he believes is unique compared to the rest.

“We’re not just like one-dimensional players,” Mitchell said. “I think a lot of people can shoot, they can play. A lot of people on the bench can drive the ball, make plays, finish at the rim… A lot of times people are just one-dimensional. They can only shoot. They can’t put the ball on the floor. We don’t have a lot of people on that team. But obviously, we have to think about shooting the ball better and thinking about the new ball. offense, trying to get the puck down.”

In his last Mitchell outing, he participated in the annual Red, White and Pink game on Wednesday, a special night because his mother is a breast cancer survivor. Mitchell called it a “great” moment as he looks to help Miami improve in the Oct. 22 opener against Orlando.