After what was widely considered a strong finish to the month of January, the OKC Thunder have found themselves once again skidding into a bit of a rough patch.
The team's three losses over the past five games have been largely due to extensive injury reports and an inability to overcome the absence of key talent.
Along the way, one player in particular has begun to separate himself as arguably the most important missing piece amidst the Thunder's struggles.
Ajay Mitchell is proving himself to be the x-factor for this team. The 2024 second-round draft pick seemingly came out of nowhere back in October to establish himself as a dominant ball-handler and an anchor for OKC's second unit.
It's been in his absences, however, that the blue and orange have realized his true value.
Ajay Mitchell holds a stat that no other Thunder player can claim
Ajay Mitchell is the only player on the Thunder who can say his team has a losing record without him. Their loss Sunday night to the Raptors moved their record to 0-4 in games where he's been shelved.
Having lost all four matchups without the sophomore guard manning the second unit, OKC is likely beginning to discover Mitchell's true meaning to the team.
Two losses to the Spurs without Mitchell could have been a fluke, but back-to-back losses to a pair of Eastern Conference teams suggest a trend is forming.
When healthy, the second-year man has demonstrated two irreplaceable traits. He has served as a dependable ball-handler when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is off the floor, and he has played some of the best defense in the league.
Mitchell's defensive field goal percentage of 37.8 percent is the lowest in the NBA among players who have played at least 23 games.
Thunder have struggled to replace Ajay Mitchell's skillset
Oklahoma City has yet to find a suitable replacement for their two-way guard, who is proving to be one of the team's most valuable assets when it comes to staying in the win column.
Offensive-minded players like Aaron Wiggins and Kenrich Williams have shown they are unable to replicate Mitchell's defensive prowess, and premier defenders such as Lu Dort and Cason Wallace don't possess the same kind of ball-handling and shot-creating abilities that he has.
With that being said, these four losses without their unsung hero should go to show how fortunate the Thunder are to have such a rare skillset coming off the bench.
Other playoff contenders consider themselves lucky enough to have just one dynamic playmaker on their roster. Western Conference teams like the Nuggets, Lakers, and Wolves have been desperate to find someone to run their offense off the bench all season, and other teams, such as the Warriors and the Suns, recently suffered major injuries to starting ball-handlers.
With Mitchell likely to return sometime this week, the Thunder are looking forward to having their difference-maker back and healthy for the second half of the season.