Associate HC Johnnie Bryant’s past history with Donovan Mitchell could give Knicks needed edge

There’s intimate knowledge attached to New York’s scouting reports on Donovan Mitchell.

Johnnie Bryant, the Knicks associate head coach, has a deep and documented history with Mitchell, who has credited the development guru with lifting him into stardom with the Utah Jazz.

The connection is such that Bryant’s hire with the Knicks in 2020 intensified rumors that Mitchell would wind up in orange and blue, which nearly became reality before Jazz president Danny Ainge opted for Cleveland’s trade package.

Now they’re on opposite sides in a playoff series, and Immanuel Quickley smiled wryly when asked if Bryant’s history with Mitchell gives the Knicks an edge in preparation.

“I ain’t going to speak on that,” Quickley said.

But does it help?

“Yeah, definitely.”

Bryant worked as a Jazz assistant under Quin Snyder from 2014 to 2020, serving as Mitchell’s personal growth coach. It’s safe to assume he knows Mitchell’s tendencies.

As Mitchell told The Athletic before Bryant left for New York, “I love him to death, man. He’s a guy who wants me to be the best. I met him in Summer League, and I had already heard a lot about him. In three years, he’s pushed me past my limits. He doesn’t tell me what I want to hear. He tells me what I need to hear. I just can’t say enough about him and how much he’s helped me.”

After Bryant transferred to the Knicks, he reset Julius Randle toward a second All-Star appearance and pushed Quickley to a new level.

“I don’t know if there’s anybody in the league better than him as far as really a lot of stuff,” Quickley said. “I feel like I’m a high IQ player, but I learn something every day that I’m with him, that we watch film, when I have a question. He’s one of the smartest coaches I’ve ever been around.

“[He helps me out with] everything. Mental, physical, spiritual. Me and him, spiritual level, everything.  In any aspect of life, I can pretty much hit him up on everything.”

Bryant isn’t the only connection to Mitchell. Josh Hart, who will undoubtedly draw the assignment of guarding the All-Star, developed a friendship through Mitchell’s longtime buddy, Eric Paschall.

Paschall and Hart were teammates at Villanova, and that translated to a lasting bond.

“I was on Facetime with [Mitchell] earlier,” Hart said. “We have the same barber, have to make sure the barber was there so I can get a fresh cut. It’s exciting because that’s someone I’ve known for the last seven years. Someone who I’ve watched grow in the league. Someone who has a great personality, a high character kid. So it’ll be fun. We play video games together. We talk trash. Those kind of things. Hang out.”

Still, there are boundaries to friendship.

“Don has a thing. He doesn’t get dinner with any opposing players who are in his city,” Hart said. “So I’m going to do the same.”

So the Knicks are skipping the dinner and heading right to the movie. Or, the film sessions with Bryant.

()