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Tony Mitchell Makes his Mark in Return to NBA D-League

After his 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks expired, Mad Ants forward Tony Mitchell returned to Fort Wayne with a bang on Sunday night, dropping 26 points off the bench and maintaining his team's hot-streak.

By Matthew Hochberg
Jim McIsaac

Last Friday, Tony Mitchell's first chapter in the NBA came to a close after his 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks expired. Yet, the 24-year-old did not let the news deter his confidence. Instead, he embraced it.

In his first D-League game since March 1, Mitchell dropped a team-high 26 points in 28 minutes off the bench, shooting 10-of-18 from the field while knocking down 5-of-9 three-point attempts. The forward added four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block.

Mitchell has been part of NBA Summer League squads and played in both the Philippines and China, but has always thrived in the D-League. He was named the 2013 D-League Rookie of the Year and is the two-time defending D-League Slam Dunk Contest Champion.

In three games with the Bucks earlier this month, Mitchell tallied six points, playing a mere ten minutes.

Below are highlights from Mitchell's impressive return:


Third-year D-Leaguer Sadiel Rojas recorded a double-double, contributing 24 points and fifteen rebounds. The wingman played four seasons at Oklahoma Wesleyan before beginning his professional career in the Dominican Republic. He was selected in the fourth-round of the 2012 D-League Draft.

Despite the loss, Sevens star Tiny Gallon produced his fourth double-double in the last six games, scoring a game-high 34 points and grabbing down fifteen boards. The power forward is a regular on RidiculousUpside.com's Prospect Pyramid, appearing at No. 2 in our latest rankings.

Below are highlights from Gallon's dominate outing:

The Mad Ants are in their seventh D-League season, but have reached the playoffs just once. At 27-15, however, they are in first place in the East Division and boast the league's second-best record. Not only can Fort Wayne extend their season for the second consecutive year, but they finally have legitimate title-contending potential. If Mitchell remains with the team for the remainder of the season, don't be shocked if the Mad Ants are hoisting up their first championship trophy, soon.