Jalen Brunson vs Donovan Mitchell: Who is a better guard and why?

Jalen Brunson vs Donovan Mitchell: Who is a better guard and why?

Lenah Ann
May 1, 2024 at 10:53 PM

The NBA is the best basketball league in the world, producing some of the greatest athletes. Die-hard fans often compare these players, sparking debates that can only be settled by comparing their career stats. In the past few years, the Jalen Brunson vs Donovan Mitchell debate has hit the headlines, and fans want to know who is the best between them.

Jalen vs Donovan
Jalen Brunson (L) of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball on 22 April 2024. On the right, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up. Photo: Sarah Stier, Jason Miller. (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

Although both players have different backgrounds and playing styles, they have made history in the NBA as some of the greatest in the basketball world. Their achievements have earned them many fans and admirers, but who is the best?

Jalen Brunson vs Donovan Mitchell profiles

The two NBA stars are American citizens, born and raised in New York but in different areas. Based on an analysis by Basketball RealGM, let us begin by comparing their profiles to understand who they are.

Full name

Jalen Marquis Brunson

Donovan Mitchell Jr.

Date of birth

31 August 1996

7 September 1996

Place of birth

New Jersey, USA

Elmsford, New York, USA

Age

27 (as of April 2024)

27 (as of April 2024)

Height

6 feet 2 inches (1.88 metres)

6 feet 3 inches (1.91 metres)

Weight

190 lb (86 kg)

215 lb (98 kg)

NBA draft

2018: 2nd round, pick: 33rd

2017: 1st round, pick: 13th

Current club

New York Knicks

Cleveland Cavaliers

Active years

2018-present

2017-present

Net worth

$20 million

$20 million

Social media presence

Instagram, X (Twitter)

Instagram, X (Twitter)

Brunson, the New York Knicks guard, is an American-based professional basketball player drafted in 2018 by the Dallas Mavericks. He has been in the NBA for six seasons and has made history as one of the best guards ever to grace the arena.

Donovan Mitchell, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard, is an American professional basketball player who has been in the NBA for seven seasons. He is famous for his career achievements and impact on basketball.

Jalen and Donovan with the ball
Jalen Brunson, #11 of the New York Knicks, drives to the net against Donovan Mitchell, #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers, on 1 November 2023. Photo: Mike Stobe. Source: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Jalen Brunson vs Donovan Mitchell stats

According to ESPN, Brunson had averaged 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in the 2023-24 NB season at the time of writing. His counterpart averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, as per his ESPN profile. Here is a summary of their overall career stats.

Name

Points

Rebounds

Assists

Steals

Blocks

Brunson

28.7

3.6

6.7

0.9

0.2

Mitchell

24.8

4.3

4.6

1.8

0.5

Jalen Brunson vs Donovan Mitchell head-to-head

According to the Land of Basketball, the NBA guards have faced each other on 27 occasions (16 in the regular season and 11 in the playoffs). Brunson has the upper hand over Mitchell in their head-to-head encounters.

The Knicks' star also has more average points, rebounds, and assists in their games against one another. Here is a detailed head-to-head record as of May 2024.

Player

Games won

Regular season

Playoffs

Avg. Points

Avg. Assists

Avg. Rebounds

J. Brunson

15

7

8

20.5

4.1

3.8

D. Mitchell

12

9

3

24.9

5.6

4.6

Total

27

16

11

45.4

9.7

8.4

Jalen Brunson vs Donovan Mitchell achievements

The two NBA point guards have enormously impacted the NBA, building a legacy only a few can achieve. Here is a brief look at their career achievements.

Jalen vs Donovan
Jalen Brunson (L) tries to keep the ball from Donovan Mitchell (R) on 23 April 2023. Photo: Elsa. Source: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Jalen Brunson's achievements

  • NBA All-Star (2024)
  • 2-times NCAA champion (2016, 2018)
  • Consensus first-team All-American (2018)
  • Second-team Academic All-American (2018)
  • Big East Player of the Year (2018)
  • 2-times First-team All-Big East (2017, 2018)
  • McDonald's All-American (2015)
  • First-team Parade All-American (2015)
  • USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2015)
  • FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP (2015)

Donovan Mitchell's achievements

  • 5-times NBA All-Star (2020-2024)
  • All-NBA Second Team (2023)
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018)
  • NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2018)
  • First-team All-ACC (2017)

Jalen Brunson vs Donovan Mitchell's net worth

According to ClutchPoints, Jalen Brunson's estimated net worth is $20 million as of April 2024. His counterpart, Mitchell, also has a net worth of around $20 million, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth. The NBA stars made most of their fortunes through their salaries, brand endorsements, and sponsorship deals.

Frequently asked questions

The best NBA players are determined by their stats and impacts on the court. As of 2024, Donovan and Jalen rank among the best NBA guards due to their achievements off and on the court. Here are some frequently asked questions about the two legends.

Donovan vs Jalen
Donovan Mitchell (L) on 12 April 2024. On the right, Jalen Brunson on 9 April 2024. Photo: Nick Cammett, Michael Reaves. Source: Getty Images. (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Are Jalen and Donovan on Instagram?

The renowned NBA players have a massive following on various social media platforms. As of April 2024, Donovan has over 3.8 million followers on Instagram and over 1.4 million on X (Twitter). Jalen has over 465k followers on Instagram and over 162.5k on X (Twitter).

What is Jalen Brunson's career high?

The New York Knicks guard has a career record high of 61 points in a single game, which ranks him second in Knicks history. His previous high was 50 points in a match against the Phoenix Suns.

What is Donovan Mitchell's career high?

The Cleveland Cavalier guard scored a career record high of 71 points on 2 January 2023 in a match against the Chicago Bulls.

How much did Jalen Brunson average without Luka?

Without Luka Doncic in the squad, the renowned Knicks guard averaged 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 77 games.

Final word

The Jalen Brunson vs Donovan Mitchell stats and achievements are among the best in the NBA. Their styles of play and achievements make comparisons between them a common topic of debate among basketball fans. Since they are still in their prime, fans expect more from them in the coming years.

READ ALSO: Michael Jordan vs LeBron James: Who is the GOAT of basketball?

Sports Brief has recently published an article detailing who the GOAT of basketball is: Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Although the two legends' stats need deep analysis, both have made history in the NBA. Click on the link above for more details.

Authors
Lenah Ann photo
Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.