Donovan Mitchell torched Pistons in Game 3. He thought Pistons were drafting him

Donovan Mitchell thought he 'aced the test' as Pistons draft pick

And as the seconds ticked away before the 12th pick, Mitchell thought the Pistons were going to call his name.

The thought was based on a strong workout he had during a predraft visit to Auburn Hills a few days before the NBA Draft on June 22.

And it was based on a film session with Pistons president and coach Stan Van Gundy.

“I did really well in the film session with Stan,” Mitchell said. “I watch a lot of film so I remember exactly what plays were run. I remember the play calls in college, where I was supposed to be, when I was in certain positions. I thought I aced the test. This is it. I thought I’d nailed it.”

Mitchell, 21, was zooming up draft boards by the time he arrived for his Pistons visit.

A strong showing combine at the May scouting combine in Chicago helped.

At 6-feet-3, Mitchell's wingspan was measured at 6-10. Weighing a sculpted 210 pounds, he carried only 5.9 percent body fat.

Front Row (L-R) - OG Anunoby, Dennis Smith, Malik Monk, Luke Kennard, Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz, De'aaron Fox, Frank Ntilikina, Justin Jackson, Back Row (L-R) Bam Adebayo, Jonathan Isaac, Justin Patton, Lauri Markkanen, Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson, Zach Collins, Donovan Mitchell and TJ Leaf pose before the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City.

He posted the highest standing vertical leap at 36.5 inches. He posted the fastest three-quarter court sprint time at just 3.01 seconds, one of the quickest times in combine history. A 40½-inch max vertical was fourth at the combine.

“A lot of people don’t know this: I didn’t see myself in this spot five months ago, to be honest with you,” he told reporters at the Pistons practice facility the Sunday afternoon before the draft.

“It’s crazy for me to think that realistically, five months ago, I didn’t think I would be in this spot at all. I thought I’d be back in college getting ready for my junior season.”

He displayed competitiveness by scheduling workouts up until draft night. He worked out for the Sacramento Kings (fifth and 10th picks), the Charlotte Hornets (11th), the New York Knicks (eighth) and Dallas Mavericks (ninth).

Van Gundy makes a habit of reviewing film with draft prospects, saying it helps to give him a feel for a player.

“He was great in the interviews, he had a great workout,” Van Gundy said before the Pistons’ loss. “A very intelligent, thoughtful guy and extremely mature for a young guy coming out.”

Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell in action against the Duke Blue Devils during the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament at the Barclays Center on March 9, 2017 in New York City.

But they liked Kennard better and picked the Duke shooting guard.

Kennard had the better season before both underclassmen entered the NBA draft.

Kennard carried Duke offensively all season while finishing fourth in Division I in total minutes. Duke won the ACC tournament, where Kennard won tournament MVP.

Kennard averaged 19.5 points per game; Mitchell averaged 15.6.

Kennard shot nearly 44 percent from 3-point range; Mitchell shot 35 percent.

Kennard also had the advanced stat edge.

“(Predraft workouts are) important and beneficial to some degree, but our viewing in the 5-on-5 settings with college teams is where we should see all those different things — or not see them — which is just as valuable,” Pistons general manager Jeff Bower said the Friday after the team introduced Kennard.

Kennard shot the ball well in his workout with the Pistons, but he didn’t compete against other draft hopefuls.

It’s an understatement to say Mitchell has thrived after the Jazz consummated a draft night trade with the Denver Nuggets, who picked Mitchell at No. 13.

Although the numbers were understated against the Pistons, he flashed his tantalizing ability.

...

The Pistons weren’t the only team to pass on Mitchell, who also thought the Hornets would take him at No. 11 instead of the currently struggling Malik Monk.

Mitchell admits he was irritated on draft night.

But it’s not something that really drives him — like it does teammate Rudy Gobert who wears No. 27 to represent going 27th in the 2013 draft.

“Rudy wears No. 27 because of the teams that passed on him so it’s a different type of mentality,” Mitchell said. “My philosophy is everything happens for a reason and God put me here for a reason. I don’t have any animosity against those teams.”

A brief pause.

“I guess you do have a little bit of motivation against those teams, but I really don’t hold anything against them.”

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons tormentor Donovan Mitchell almost played for them