Donovan Mitchell already has an impressive dunk highlight reel — here are a few favorites

Clear the lane. Incoming.

Anyone who has watched Donovan Mitchell play the last 50 games knows that the Jazz’s star rookie is always a threat to put someone on a poster. With the news that the 21-year-old is going to be in this year’s Slam Dunk Contest for the All-Star Game in Los Angeles next week, Utah is already buzzing about what could be in store.

Already in his first season, Mitchell has put together a catalogue of jaw-dropping in-game dunks. And he came to the NBA with a reputation as a rim-rocker despite standing at just 6-foot-3.

At the NBA Combine last May, his max vertical was measured at 40.5 inches — just an inch shy of past champions Zach LaVine and Glen Robinson III. His 6-foot-10 wingspan helps him reach up just a little higher for some of the most powerful dunks in the league this season.

Here’s a look at some of his past work that convinced the league he should step into this year’s dunk contest, and perhaps a taste of what the crowd at Staples Center has to look forward to on Feb. 17:

Bringing down the house in Brooklyn

One dunk that truly put Mitchell on the map came in 2014, when he caught a pass from Derrick Jones way behind him and managed to cram it in. Sharing the floor with future NBAers like Jaylen Brown, Josh Jackson, Juwan Evans and Thon Maker, Mitchell’s dunk brought the crowd to its feet at the Under Armour Elite 24 event.

First at Kentucky Derby

On his way to Louisville, Mitchell got an invite to the 2015 Derby Basketball Classic which hosts its own dunk contest. Not everything went according to plan, as he had to abort his first alley-oop choice. But he won the contest with two lobs to himself, including one between his legs facing backward.

He got a perfect score.

Smoking the Seminoles

Mitchell put up a lot of dunks over his two-year career at Louisville, but this one is his favorite: a massive putback over blue-chipper Malik Beasley. The Cardinals went on to win the game over the Seminoles, but the result is less memorable than the highlight.

Summer League slams

Mitchell gave a taste of what was to come during his Summer League debut at Huntsman Center. Several times in warmups, the rookie showed some of his bounce to adoring fans who had bought in on his stardom seemingly by week’s end.

Bouncing over Ball

This is possibly his most popular dunk in a Jazz uniform, and also when the rest of the NBA started taking note that Mitchell was to be reckoned with as an aerial force. None of the Lakers take care to box him out on an Alec Burks 3-point attempt. It was a mistake.

Cruising over the Clippers

Leading a blowout win over Los Angeles in November, Mitchell put up this highlight while the Jazz were piecing together a win on the road. The play was notable not just for the air he got, but for its frank similarity to a pindown play that the Jazz used to run for Gordon Hayward all the time. Mitchell is not Hayward, but he replicates some of the rim threat that the All Star used to create during his Utah days.

Next-level against the Nuggets

The fact that Ricky Rubio threw a behind-the-back assist is a footnote in how this dunk blew up on social media. It showed Mitchell’s pure power driving in for the finish, rather than needing an alley-oop. Will Barton might still have nightmares about this.

Cramming on the Cavs

Still one of the biggest wins the Jazz have enjoyed at home, Mitchell shined against the Cavaliers on more than one occasion. But this is a list of dunks, so we have to zoom in on this play: Mitchell took advantage of a J.R. Smith hesitation, then got way up over a helpless Jae Crowder. He scored 29 points in the victory.

Miami Connection

After the game, Thabo Sefolosha downplayed his role in the play, saying it’s easy when you have a rookie like Mitchell. It looked pretty simple: The veteran found Mitchell from nearly halfcourt, and Mitchell soared in to do the rest. It was two of a 13-point run that Mitchell had himself in a five-minute span to start the half.

All the dunks on the Kings

Every now and then, a breakaway allows you to show off a little. Mitchell had that chance against the Sacramento Kings, getting a steal and windmilling one in. It only helps boost curiosity as to what he might do next week with no defenders in his way. Of course his second-half dunk against Sacramento kind of showed that, with one of the best calls of the year: “Let’s see if the Kings can defend this better. Mitchell splits the — uh-oh.”