BIO: DJ Mitchell was born in Melbourne (VIC) while his father Mike was playing with the North Melbourne Giants in the NBL. He would follow his father as he played in Germany and France before he retired and the family returned to California. There he grew up in Fresno and attended Buchanan High School in Clovis, California where he was a three-time first-team all-conference honouree with the basketball team. He was also a all-state volleyball player at Buchanan.

Due to his mother having Irish heritage through her grandparents. Mitchell also holds a Irish passport and is eligible to play for Ireland.

FAMILY: DJ Mitchell is the son of Mike Mitchell who played 176 games in the NBL. Mitchell’s mother, Michelle Maher played professional beach volleyball. He also has two siblings, Jaiden and Myca. Myca played volleyball at Wake Forest and Howard.

NBL EXPERIENCE

DJ Mitchell made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 25 years of age. He scored 12 points in his first game.

Although he was on the radars of multiple NBL team’s in 2021, he failed to earn a contract and instead spent his first season as a pro playing in the Netherlands. He then played for Gold Coast in the 2022 NBL1 with his play earning a contract from the Brisbane Bullets. The son of former Bullets import Mike Mitchell, DJ was signed by Brisbane as part of an off-season overhaul that aimed to lift the team from their second-last finish the previous year.

The Bullets entered the season with high expectations, bolstered by the addition of NBA veteran Aron Baynes and experienced guard Tyler Johnson, both of whom had played together for the Phoenix Suns. Additional recruits included Devondrick Walker (via NBL1), Harry Froling (via Illawarra), Gorjok Gak (via Europe), and Mitchell, alongside returning players Jason Cadee, Tyrell Harrison, Tanner Krebs, and captain Nathan Sobey. The off-season acquisitions prompted media predictions of a top-four finish, but questions remained about the health of Sobey and Baynes, both of whom were returning from significant injuries.

The season started poorly for Brisbane, with the team losing their first six games. While Baynes (11.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) struggled to rediscover his NBA form, and Sobey (15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists) recorded his lowest numbers in five years, Mitchell began to show glimpses of his potential. In an early-season matchup against defending champions Sydney, Mitchell recorded a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, marking one of the standout performances of his rookie season.

The Bullets turned their fortunes around with back-to-back wins against Illawarra. Baynes was instrumental in the first victory (82–56) with a 17-point, 14-rebound effort, while Sobey led the second (86–61) with 22 points in the first half, a career-high. Brisbane followed up with a narrow 74–72 win over Tasmania, securing a three-game winning streak. Mitchell played an important supporting role during this stretch, contributing energy and athleticism on both ends of the floor.

However, the momentum was short-lived. Import Devondrick Walker (9.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) was released, and head coach James Duncan was fired after a poor start. Interim coach Sam Mackinnon recorded one victory—a thrilling 106–95 overtime win against Perth—before Greg Vanderjagt took over for the remainder of the season. Brisbane’s campaign quickly spiraled, with a 37-point loss to New Zealand and a historic 49-point defeat against Sydney highlighting their struggles. Reports of internal tensions between the Bullets’ CEO and coaching staff further compounded the team’s woes.

Despite the team’s disappointing season, Mitchell continued to make valuable contributions. He scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a close loss to Cairns (82–90), showcasing his versatility and ability to impact the game. Over the season, Mitchell averaged 9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 26 games. His athleticism, defensive intensity, and scoring ability provided glimpses of his potential as a key piece for the Bullets’ future.

Brisbane finished the season second last with an 8–20 record, three of their wins coming against Illawarra, who endured their worst season in franchise history.

2023/24
In 2023/24, DJ Mitchell continued to solidify his role in the Brisbane Bullets’ rotation, averaging 5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. His contributions were instrumental in helping Brisbane improve their record to 13–15 and secure a seventh-place finish in the standings.

DJ Mitchell played two seasons the Brisbane Bullets. He averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 42 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (823 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.