Having a significant impact on an NBA Finals contender was not always in the cards for Ajay Mitchell. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard is establishing himself as a potential star early in the 2025-26 NBA season.
Mitchell has silenced his doubters while playing a quality brand of basketball for an 8-1 OKC squad, and the Thunder have benefited from his performance to say the least.
The UC Santa Barbara product was selected by the Knicks 38th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. New York ended up trading him to Oklahoma City on draft night. The Thunder were impressed by Mitchell's college career and intriguing potential and decided to give him an opportunity, ultimately signing him to a two-way contract in the summer of 2024.
Mitchell appeared in 36 total NBA games with the Thunder a season ago, receiving 16.6 minutes per outing.
OKC still believed in Mitchell's ceiling, but he simply did not have much of an opportunity last year.
The 2025-26 team is giving Mitchell his chance, though, and he is taking advantage of the opportunity.
Ajay Mitchell is making the most of new opportunity with OKC Thunder
Through nine games played in the 2025-26 campaign, Ajay Mitchell is dropping averages of 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per contest. He has played a reliable role from a defensive standpoint and has also been given a significant opportunity offensively.
The guard is taking over 13 field goal attempts and just under four three-point attempts per outing. He's shooting 45.8 from the field, which is impressive, but his 28.6 three-point percentage is not ideal.
With that said, the fact that the Thunder are trusting Mitchell to shoot the ball on a more consistent basis is an encouraging sign for the future.
At the end of the day, the Thunder already features no shortage of star power. Oklahoma City certainly won't complain about another young player finding his rhythm and providing a crucial boost.
Perhaps playing alongside reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has positively impacted Mitchell, as one has to imagine that learning from the superstar has only helped his situation.
The Thunder recently dropped their first game of the year in a 121-119 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. OKC should have no trouble bouncing back in an upcoming contest against the 3-5 Kings in Sacramento on Friday night.
The Thunder-Kings clash is scheduled for 10 PM EST.