The OKC Thunder already have two established All-Stars in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams within their midst. Chet Holmgren has also long been viewed as a star on the rise himself.
Now, amid a true breakout campaign to kick off 2025-26, many are gleefully tossing Ajay Mitchell into the conversation of possible Oklahoma City-based candidates who could be sent to the illustrious mid-season exhibition at some point in the near future.
During a recent episode of The Athletic NBA Daily, co-host Es Baraheni raved about the trajectory that the sophomore guard currently finds himself on, going as far as to admit that he's "dangerously high" on what his ceiling in the league could wind up being.
"We're talking All-Star. We're talking a guy who might end up being an All-Star level player, maybe not this season but eventually," Baraheni said.
Ajay Mitchell believed to be on an All-Star trajectory with Thunder
Right out of the gates during his rookie campaign in 2024-25, Mitchell was already widely considered one of the biggest steals from his respective draft class.
Selected 38 overall, the point guard burst onto the scene by carving out a consistent role within the top-seeded and eventual NBA Championship-winning Thunder rotation, seeing averages of 16.6 minutes a night while ranking fifth in three-point percentage (38.3) and first in defensive rating (100.0) among his first-year peers who saw 30 or more games played.
This strong play ultimately earned him a new, long-term deal with the organization this past summer, as Sam Presti and company signed him through 2028 via an $8.7 million contract.
Clearly, based on this chatter by Baraheni and the sheer eye test, this decision is proving to be an otherworldly bargain for Oklahoma City in year one of the pact, as he's dropping new career-highs of 16.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals while ranking second in the league in defensive rating (98.6) out of those who have logged north of 150 minutes played so far.
The only player ahead of him -- his own All-Defensive teammate, Alex Caruso.
Still only 23 years old, Mitchell is far from entering into the prime of his playing career and, as suggested by Baraheni, who knows how luxurious that could wind up being.
As of this moment, it appears that, worst-case scenario, he's a quality, highly cost-effective young role player to have complement the club's three stars in the likes of SGA, J-Dub, and Holmgren.
Best-case scenario, he works his way into attaining the same untouchable status as this aforementioned trio and helps the Thunder formulate a true Big Four out in the Sooner State.
No matter how things ultimately shake out, Mitchell is a prime example of why this OKC squad seems primed to become the game's next great dynasty.