Even to die-hard OKC Thunder fans, the astronomic rise of Ajay Mitchell in 2025-26 has caught everyone by surprise.
So much so, in fact, that The Ringer's Bill Simmons believes he deserves to be in the running for a new, made-up honor called the "Where The F*ck Did You Come From" award.
During a recent edition of The Bill Simmons Podcast, the eponymous host discussed some of the biggest breakthrough players of the year so far, noting how all names mentioned logged fewer than 15 minutes per game a season ago before bursting onto the scene during this year's campaign.
Now, though guys like Reed Shepard, Cam Spencer, and Neemias Queta all received acknowledgment in this make-believe race, it's clear that Mitchell has, without question, proven to be the most notable performer of the bunch.
Ajay Mitchell continues to shine bright on stacked Thunder
After rather quietly placing fifth in three-point percentage (38.3) and first in defensive rating (100.0) among his first-year peers in 2024-25 (minimum 30 games played), Mitchell's production during his sophomore go-around has been deafeningly loud.
Through 32 games played, the point guard finds himself dropping impressive averages of 14.1 points, 3.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while shooting a highly efficient 47.8 percent from the field for the defending champs.
On top of his stellar counting stats, Mitchell has also been a true revelation in the advanced metrics department for the Thunder, particularly on the defensive end, where he ranks fourth in the entire league in rating (100.4) and in opponent field goal percentage (42.3) among those who have logged a minimum of 300 minutes played.
During All-NBA forward Jalen Williams' absence early in the season while recovering from wrist surgery, the Santa Barbara product was integral to their historic 18-1 start and has remained a key figure in the rotation even after his return, serving as a super sub off the bench.
It's not every day that teams find a player who provides as much two-way production as Mitchell does, especially those selected in the second round.
As things currently stand, behind his tremendous efforts, the Thunder guard is already viewed as a serious threat to take home Sixth Man of the Year honors come the conclusion of the season, while OKC is once again seen as the odds-on favorites to take home their second consecutive Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Add Simmons' NSFW honor to the laundry list of reasons why Oklahoma City clearly has one of the best bargain players currently in the association in the likes of Mitchell.