Davion Mintz (UK Athletics Photo)
One thing I love about Davion Mintz is that he never ducks a question and is not afraid to answer honestly. He did during Kentucky’s disappointing 9-16 season and certainly did not change Thursday during a Zoom call with UK media members — his first media opportunity since announcing he would be back at UK for another season.
“I try to forget about the past. Living in the past is just not what you want to do. Honestly, we won nine games last year. If that’s not enough motivation for anybody, I don’t know what is,” Mintz said when asked about if last year’s disappointment would motivate him this season.
“You just don’t forget that you won nine games. We’re going to use that motivation. We’re gonna live off of that and I think it’s going to be a great year. There’s going to be a lot of fight in us.”
Kentucky fans are also and that’s why they are excited about coach John Calipari’s reloaded 2021-22 roster that now includes Mintz, UK’s best player most of last season.
He admitted all the returning players want to make amends for last year and is a major motivator for everyone after UK had only its second losing season since 1927.
Mintz tested his NBA worth for the second time — he also did before leaving Creighton — but did not have any workouts except for a few private workouts with some players on the Charlotte Hornets when he was home in North Carolina. He said no workouts was “not really surprising” since he did not sign with an agent to keep his option of returning to college open.
He did interview with the San Antonio Spurs and got “some pretty good feedback” while letting team officials get to know him.
