Knicks Could've Drafted Mitchell: Pitino's Shocking Revelation

The What-If That Haunts New York Basketball

New York Knicks fans are all too familiar with the bitter taste of draft-day regret. But a recent revelation from legendary coach Rick Pitino has added another chapter to the franchise's storied history of near-misses. In a stunning admission, Pitino revealed he personally pitched Donovan Mitchell to the Knicks before the 2017 NBA Draft – only to be flatly rejected by the franchise he once led.

A Hall of Fame Coach's Plea

During an appearance on "The Roommates" podcast with Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, Pitino shared the details of a phone call he made to New York's front office. With the Knicks holding the seventh overall pick, Pitino didn't mince words:

"I called them up and said, 'Listen, take my guy Donovan Mitchell. He's gonna kill it. Don't pay attention to what they say about some of his weaknesses. He's gonna kill it; take him.' They said, 'Nah, I don't know if we can take him that high.' They end up taking Frank Nicoletti, or something like that... Just think about that: They could have Donovan at seven, but they couldn't take him because it was too high, but they took Frank."

As Pitino noted with a wry smile, the Knicks passed on a future six-time All-Star because they deemed him "too high" at #7 – yet proceeded to select Frank Ntilikina, who barely lasted seven NBA seasons.

The Knicks' Flawed Logic

At the time, the Knicks' decision-making was clouded by several factors. Phil Jackson's front office prioritized physical attributes over proven production. Ntilikina's 6'5" frame and 7-foot wingspan impressed scouts, despite the French guard being just 18 years old. Meanwhile, Mitchell was viewed as "undersized" at 6'3" and already 21 years old.

What made the rejection even more puzzling was Mitchell's deep New York roots. Born in Elmsford, NY, just 31 miles from Madison Square Garden, his father worked for the New York Mets, and Donovan was a Rucker Park legend during his summers. The Knicks had a local product ready to become their cornerstone – and they passed.

The Stark Reality

Eight years later, the career trajectories speak volumes:

• Donovan Mitchell: 6-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA selection, career averages of 24.9 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.0 threes per game. Now starring for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• Frank Ntilikina: Out of the NBA by age 25, averaging just 4.8 points in 321 career games before moving to European leagues.

"They wound up taking Frank Ntilikina," Pitino recalled, mixing up the name but underscoring the point. "Just think about that."

A Pattern of Regret

This blunder fits into a painful Knicks tradition of draft missteps. From passing on Ron Artest in 1999 for Frederic Weiss (the player Vince Carter famously dunked over in the 2000 Olympics) to selecting Kevin Knox in 2018 while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Mikal Bridges remained available, New York has repeatedly seen the correct answer and circled the wrong one.

While the Knicks have since built a competitive roster featuring Brunson, Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell's success with the Cavaliers adds salt to the wound. Every time the Knicks face Cleveland, fans are reminded of the superstar they let slip away.

The Final Twist

What makes Pitino's revelation most intriguing is that he wasn't just any coach – he was a hall-of-famer speaking about his star player. When a trusted voice that knowledgeable offers such a passionate endorsement, it should carry weight. Yet in this case, the Knicks' front office remained unmoved.

As Pitino's bombshell story circulates, it serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of overvaluing physical potential over proven skill and competitive fire. For a franchise desperate to end its championship drought, this might be the most painful "what if" in recent memory.