Chapter 365: The Mamba Legacy.
By mid-August, Han Sen's personal training camp had concluded.
The second overall pick, Lonzo Ball, was busy promoting his own brand. This year, Nike placed its bets on top picks Markelle Fultz and De'Aaron Fox, while Under Armour focused on the Kings' rookies, Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum.
Both rookies attended Han Sen's camp. Tatum showcased solid skills, but it was Mitchell who truly left a lasting impression. After the camp, Han gifted Mitchell a pair of unreleased, autographed Panda 3s.
Mitchell, a shooting guard, stood only 6'1" (1.85m) barefoot. His inconsistent three-point shot and limited playmaking drew comparisons to Tony Allen—unique but hard to categorize, which explained his draft position.
Back in March Madness, Mitchell was projected as a late first-rounder. However, stellar pre-draft workouts catapulted him into the lottery, an even bigger leap than Han experienced in his draft year.
Two factors fueled this rise:
1. Physical Attributes: Despite his height, Mitchell possessed elite physical tools. His wingspan stretched to 6'10" (2.08m), and his body fat percentage was an impressive 5.9% as a fresh NCAA graduate. His standing vertical leap of 36.5 inches (92.7cm) led all draftees, with a max vertical of 42.9 inches (109cm), ranking fifth overall. Most notably, his three-quarter court sprint clocked at 3.01 seconds, faster than Dwyane Wade.
2. Competitive Fire: Han hadn't paid much attention to Mitchell in his past life, viewing him as an average All-Star at best. Surprisingly, Under Armour signed him without Han's input.
However, witnessing Mitchell firsthand changed everything.
Mitchell's competitiveness was ferocious. Despite inconsistent shooting, he fearlessly launched seven to eight threes per scrimmage, even attempting deep-range shots without hesitation. Defensively, his wingspan compensated for his height, making him a relentless presence. Even when crossed over, he bounced back instantly, chasing plays with unyielding tenacity.
His flashy, energetic style echoed Han's early days: "I'll take you down, no matter who you are." But unlike Han's stoic demeanor, Mitchell radiated joy, often grinning even when attacking the rim with thunderous dunks.