Stepping up during Jalen Williams' absence, the sophomore guard is crucial for another Thunder championship run.
Ajay Mitchell was tabbed as the second option when Jalen Williams strained his hamstring against Phoenix, and the sophomore answered the call. Over the past six games sans Williams, Mitchell averaged 21.2 points, 5.3 assists and 1.3 turnovers per game. His play and poise against Los Angeles were especially impressive, and Oklahoma City finished the series with a 133.5 offensive rating and 22.7 net rating when Mitchell was on the court.
He has grabbed headlines across the NBA world due to his stellar performances, but Mitchell’s rise comes as no surprise to people who watch Thunder basketball regularly.
Mitchell cracked the rotation as a rookie during the 2025 season despite Oklahoma City’s exceptional amount of depth. He wound up missing extended time due to injury, which left him rusty and not in peak form throughout the playoffs. And yet, Mark Daigneault trusted the rookie enough to throw him into an NBA Finals game.
Mitchell’s playing time increased from 16.6 to 25.8 minutes per game this season, and he was a crucial cog in the rotation. His scoring and playmaking helped keep the offense afloat when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was resting and Jalen Williams was injured. For example, Mitchell averaged 20 points and 6.8 assists per 75 possessions during the 724 minutes that he played without Gilgeous-Alexander.
Advanced stats also loved the sophomore this season. He ranked 15th across the NBA in Net Points per 100 Possessions, 33rd in LEBRON and 52nd in EPM. Essentially, he profiles as a legitimate second option according to advanced metrics.
Overall, Mitchell finished fifth in Sixth Man of the Year voting and likely would have won had he not missed 25 games because of injuries. His ability to scale his role and production based on the Thunder’s needs is such a valuable trait.
If Oklahoma City is going to advance past Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs (assuming they defeat Minnesota), then Mitchell has to maintain his recent level of play. Generating paint touches, attacking mismatches, drawing fouls, avoiding turnovers and defending at a high level are all boxes that must be checked. Otherwise, the offense may become stagnant should the Spurs double Gilgeous-Alexander while having Wembanyama roam the paint.
San Antonio won four of its five contests against Oklahoma City this season, but it’s worth noting that Mitchell only played in two of these games – a two-point loss in the NBA Cup Semifinals and a 21-point blowout win on Jan. 13. Look for his impact to be a game-changer in the Western Conference Finals.