The Oklahoma City Thunder are beginning to encounter a problem that most teams could only dream of having. Fresh off of winning 68 games and the first championship in franchise history, Oklahoma City is preparing for an influx of talent and steps forward from young players who could soon crack the rotation.
Finding minutes in one of the deepest rotations in the NBA will be no easy task, but Ajay Mitchell is one of the players with the tools to force Mark Daigneault's hand.
Mitchell was a second-round draft pick in 2024 and appeared in 36 games for the Thunder as a rookie. During that time, he averaged 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.6 three-point field goals made in just 16.6 minutes per game.
Those numbers translate to compelling averages of 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
What's even more impressive than the volume that Mitchell produced with is the efficiency he managed. He posted a slash line of .495/.383/.829, an eFG% of .557 that was well above the league average, and an eye-opening mark of 40.4 percent on catch-and-shoot threes.
Compounded by a head-turning performance at the 2025 Summer League, Mitchell has positioned himself to secure an uptick in playing time in 2025-26.
Ajay Mitchell is on the rise—and the Thunder need to find minutes for him
Mitchell appears to have made a name for himself with Daigneault already after appearing in 12 playoff games during the Thunder's run to the title in 2024-25. He played limited minutes, but it's commendable for a rookie to find the court that often during a championship campaign.
The question now facing Daigneault is how he'll manage to incorporate Mitchell into one of the deepest rotations in the NBA in 2025-26.
It's clearly unlikely that Mitchell will unseat any of Alex Caruso, Luguentz Dort, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or Jalen Williams in his pursuit of more minutes. It's also difficult to imagine Cason Wallace sliding lower in the rotation after thriving as the Thunder's sixth man in 2024-25.
With this in mind, the question is simple: Can Mitchell realistically receive some of the playing time that goes to Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins?
Joe and Wiggins are high-level reserves set to make more than $22 million combined in 2025-26. Their production was almost identical to their salaries, as they averaged a combined 22.2 points per game in 2024-25—despite neither playing more than 22.7 minutes per game.
Wiggins' averages translated to 18.9 points and 2.7 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes on .488/.383/.831 shooting, while Joe posted 17.0 points and 4.3 triples per 36 on a slash line of .440/.412/.821.
Ajay Mitchell will have stiff competition for playing time
Clearly, deciding who to play and where comes down to more than just their production. What Mitchell is competing with, however, is a dynamic duo that provides elite shooting and bench production that helps alleviate a significant burden from the starters.
Mitchell is off to a strong start in that same regard, but securing regular minutes will require him to prove that he can provide similar offensive value.
The alternative option is that Mitchell steps up in a way that differentiates himself from the existing players. One of the manners in which he could do so is by leaning into a strength that he showcased in college, when he emerged as a high-level playmaker.
Mitchell averaged 5.1 assists per game as a sophomore and 4.0 as a junior, and he put that very skill on display with crafty passes and high assist numbers at Summer League.
If Mitchell can combine his efficient shooting and clever playmaking with reliable defense, minutes should be made available to him. His talent is undeniable and his southpaw stylings make for a strong change-of-pace off the bench.
Minutes won't be easy to secure, especially if Nikola Topic lives up to the hype, but Mitchell is making it difficult to ignore him as a rotational asset.