Whether or not Ajay Mitchell truly becomes the next James Harden, the similarities in their roles with the Oklahoma City Thunder are tough to ignore. Fresh off of a breakout season that has him primed for Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2026-27, Mitchell will operate as the bridge between the Thunder's star starters—much as Harden was during his time in Oklahoma City.
The pieces may not be identical, but Mitchell can learn quite a bit from how Harden helped the Thunder reach the 2012 NBA Finals as the basketball version of a voice of reason.
Harden played for a Thunder team that had three starters definitively leading the charge: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka. Durant was an elite scorer, Westbrook was a dynamic playmaker and scorer himself, and Ibaka was a dominant defender who could knock down midrange jumpers.
The hurdles that the Thunder's star trio had to clear, however, were tough to overlook: Durant was every opposing defense's top target, Westbrook's jumper was unpredictable, and Ibaka didn't assert himself on offense.
Fast forward to 2026 and there are remarkable similarities between that trio and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. Gilgeous-Alexander is an elite scorer whom every defense targets, Williams is a scorer and playmaker whose jumper is an unknown, and Holmgren is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate who can shoot threes, but doesn't impose himself on offense as much as many want him to.
That puts Mitchell in the same position that Harden found himself in as the shot creator and playmaker who must be able to situationally take over when his teammates need help.
Ajay Mitchell must be the bridge that connects OKC's stars in 2026-27
Williams is a career 37.4 percent shooter from beyond the arc, but he buried just 29.9 percent of his attempts in 2025-26. Injuries played a key part, as he also shot 30.4 percent from beyond the arc during the playoffs in 2025 while dealing with the wrist ailment that has come to define his past year.
There's reason for optimism that Williams will right the ship, but until that transpires, it's fair to question if his injury history has impacted his shooting to the point where help is needed.
Holmgren, meanwhile, averaged 17.1 points per game and 21.3 per 36 minutes on .557/.362/.792 shooting in 2025-26. In saying that, he's attempted between 14.0 and 14.2 field goal attempts per 36 minutes across each of his three NBA seasons and plummeted to 11.5 during the 2026 Playoffs.
Holmgren has all of the tools to be a force as a scorer, but history must be acknowledged as a factor the Thunder must compensate for on offense.
Thunder need Ajay Mitchell to step up when polarizing co-stars falter
That's where Mitchell checks in as a player who can create easier looks for Holmgren and Williams when they're not at their best—and score himself when all else fails. In 2025-26, he averaged 18.9 points and 5.0 assists per 36 minutes, and showcased the ability to take over in key spots.
Furthermore, Mitchell ranked in the 92nd percentile in rim shot creation, the 95th percentile in one on one shot making, and the 99th percentile in passing creation quality, per Basketball Index.
In other words: Mitchell is one of the best players in the NBA at creating his own offense, as well as generating efficient looks for his teammates. He'll need to do exactly that as the Thunder answer pivotal questions about their stars that don't yet have a resolution.
It's a role that Harden played en route to Sixth Man of the Year honors and an NBA Finals appearance. Fast forward to 2026-27 and Mitchell will need to follow in his footsteps.
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