LAS VEGAS – In an era where NBA nicknames often lack creativity and aren’t what they used to be, Davion Mitchell’s might be one of the best.

Off-Night. He inherited the moniker from some friends during his junior season in college, when the fiery point guard and Georgia native helped lead Baylor to its first National Championship and was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Mitchell would routinely guard the opposing team’s best perimeter player, generally a highly touted prospect and projected NBA draft pick. More often than not he would shut them down, or see to it that they had an off night.

“So, we just stuck with that,” said Mitchell, who wears the label as a badge of honour more than three years later. “I love it, actually.”

That’s music to the ears of the Toronto Raptors, who acquired the 25-year-old in a draft-night trade from Sacramento and could really use some of the qualities he brings to the table.

They needed a backup point guard, somebody to run the offence when Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes aren’t on the floor, but also somebody who can take pressure off them as primary creators. But first and foremost, they needed help on defence, where they ranked 26th last season and were especially vulnerable at the point of attack.

“For me, this year, I’m trying to bring leadership, defensive mindset, being that dog, just doing the little things on the floor,” Mitchell said. “Over my career playing basketball, every team that I’ve been on, the guy that’s on the ball brings that energy. I think that me putting pressure on the ball up top, a lot of people are gonna want to play just as hard. No one wants to stand out by not playing hard. So, me bringing that energy is........

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