Donovan Mitchell D.O.N. Issue Basketball Shoes

Donovan Mitchell’s Basketball History

Professional American basketball player Donovan Mitchell spent his youth in baseball dugouts before finding a passion for basketball and becoming a star point/shooting guard for the Utah Jazz. Born and New York, Mitchell played baseball until his sophomore year in high school, when injury moved his attention to basketball.

Before he became the 13th pick in the 2017 NBA draft, Mitchell was a student at the University of Louisville. While he decided to forgo his junior and senior years in favor of declaring for the NBA draft, he made the First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after a sophomore season where he averaged 15.6 points, 2.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game. 

Mitchell’s strong play carried over to the NBA where, in his first year, he was named to the All-Rookie First Team and won the 2018 Slam Dunk contest. He and the Jazz made the playoffs each of his five years in the league — going as far as the second round in the 2020 season — and he was an All-Star of the 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons. 

Donovan Mitchell’s History With Adidas

Throughout his time in the NBA, Mitchell has had a running endorsement deal with shoe brand Adidas. In his first two seasons in the league, Donovan Mitchell’s shoes were a bright yellow pair of Dame 4s — the signature shoe of star point guard of the Portland Trailblazers. He then roasted through various other pairs of Dame 4s and Adidas’ Pro Bounce and Crazy Explosive sneakers.

However, in June of 2019, Adidas gifted Michell an honor few players in the league receive: his own Donovan Mitchell D.O.N. issue Adidas basketball shoes.

The Story Behind D.O.N.

D.O.N. (Determination Over Negativity) means anything is possible - but where did this belief originate and what is the history behind the Donovan Mitchell D.O.N. issue Adidas basketball shoes?

Early Days of Mitchell's Life

Determination Over Negativity is Donovan Mitchell's story, belief, and fuel for his professional drive and perseverance. 

As a teen, Mitchell struggled to adjust to his lack of money compared to his schoolmates. He was one of only a handful of Black students. The only place in the school where he could consistently find comfort and stability was on the basketball court, and his coaches quickly realized he was far and away the best player on their roster.

In the 10th grade, Mitchell broke his wrist playing baseball and missed an entire summer of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball. And while he watched scouts praise other players around the country, his injury and concerns over his reliance on his physicality gave them some pause when it came time for them to determine where he ranked among his peers.

Donovan Mitchell's College Career and the NBA

Instead of letting the negative comments weigh him down, Mitchell used them to fuel his drive to improve. By the time he left Brewster Academy, he was a four-star recruit with a basketball scholarship offer from the University of Louisville.

Mitchell was a starter in his very first NBA game. He calmed his nerves by reminding himself that despite playing on a different, and undeniably more well-maintained court than the ones he’d grown up with, a game in the NBA is just a game of basketball — something he could do with his eyes closed.

And as his confidence soared, he began to produce the kind of high-powered plays and dunks that got him elected to The All-Rookie First Team and the 2018 Dunk Contest. It was a full-circle moment for a boy who spent his teenage years watching the All-Star Game with his friends, which is what Mitchell’s custom shoes represent.

D.O.N. is not just a line of footwear; it is a physical representation of Mitchell’s story and what he stands for, as well as a reminder of where he started. When people slip on his shoes, they will embody the determination that Mitchell needed to get to where he is today and the knowledge that anything is possible.

The Different D.O.N. Issues

Since the release of The D.O.N. Issue #1 in 2019, Adidas has released two new issues, each with its pros and cons and unique characteristics.

All the available Donovan Mitchell D.O.N. issue Adidas basketball shoes include: 

The D.O.N. Issue 1 Release date: July 1st, 2019 Mitchell modeled his first signature shoe with Adidas to enhance the features of the way he plays the game of basketball. The outsoles of the shoes are wider to provide more stability when their owners come down from leaps above the rim. The shoes have BOUNCE cushioning and a propulsion clip on the side for lateral support. Regarding the shoe’s design elements, The D.O.N. Issue #1 comes with a unique tread pattern meant to symbolize Mitchell’s journey.

The D.O.N. Issue 2 Release date: August 28th, 2020 The Adidas D.O.N. Issue 2 stayed faithful to the original design of its predecessor with the BOUNCE elements, but the spiderweb logo moved from the tongue to the back of the shoe. Additionally, the longitude and latitude of every place he’s been on his journey are inscribed on the button of the shoe. Some users have complained that D.O.N. Issue #1 and D.O.N. Issue #2 are too heavy for low-cut shoes.

The D.O.N. Issue 3 Release date: July 10th, 2021 While just as low-cut as the first two issues, the Adidas D.O.N. Issue 3 is about 20 g lighter due to a better blend of synthetic textiles throughout the shoe's body. However, other than that, it does not stray far from Mitchell’s tried and true formula.

Colorways

In addition to their performance on the court, every D.O.N. Issue is instantly recognizable due to the unique Colorway options available due to Mitchell and Adidas’ partnership with brands such as Marvel, Lego, and Crayola.

Special Colorways

The Crayola Colorway debuted with the D.O.N. Issue #2 and gives the shoes a colorful kick. Vibrant and rich, the Crayola Colorway comes in various colors that would be just at home in a box of crayons as they are on your feet. 

Inspired by Mitchell’s love of baseball, The Bubblegum Colorway debuted with The D.O.N Issue #3. Meant to imitate the bubblegum players chew in the dugout or on the mound, the bubblegum colorway is bright, eye-catching pink.

Finally, the Lego Colorway, developed in collaboration with Lego and for his passion for Legos as a child, this shoe is vibrant yellow with a lego character block and signature on the top.

Marvel Colorways

The Amazing Spider-man is the first Marvel Colorway Donovan and Adidas released for the D.O.N. line. Its blue and red color scheme was so close to the original Marvel design that Mitchell, Tom Holland, and Jake Gyllenhall teamed up to promote it in conjunction with Spider-Man: Far From Home. 

The Venom Colorway features a black and white color scheme in a clear nod to Peter Parker’s comic book symbiote suit. It is the only shoe with a leather top instead of mesh, and a pink, speckled gradient on the bottom gives it a unique flair.

A black shoe with hints of green and sprinkles of silver, The Stealth Spider Colorway also features a green and black camoflage sole. Black shoelaces with green mesh woven in are wrapping the entire look together.

Finally, the Iron Spider is a bright red shoe with bold hints of gold. The simplistic design makes the colors pop, giving the shoe a distinguished look. It is a subtle nod to the suit built by Tony Stark for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker.

The “Spida” Logo

Long before the NBA, the father of one of Mitchell’s teammates nicknamed him “Spida” for his long arms and ability for great steals on the court. The nickname stuck and eventually became the foundation for Mitchell’s signature logo for his size 17 shoe. 

The D.O.N. Issue #4

On April 12, 2022, a rumor circulated throughout the internet that Mithcell’s D.O.N. Issue #4 leaked. Prior to the reports, the official Twitter account of the Utah Jazz tweeted pictures of Mitchell wearing never before seen shoes.

Shortly after, Mitchell debuted a red and white pair of the highly anticipated D.O.N Issue #4s. Alongside their debut on the court, the announcement that the D.O.N. Issue #4 would drop later this year. 

With such a high-profile debut, not to mention the rumors of potential leaks, there is speculation that perhaps the Donovan Mitchell D.O.N. Adidas basketball shoes issue #4 will be the best D.O.N. Issue Adidas basketball shoes to date.