It's difficult to dispute that OKC Thunder point guard Ajay Mitchell is a budding star. From exploding onto the scene on opening night against the Rockets to carrying the team through chunks of the postseason, Mitchell has established himself as a premier asset that the Thunder are lucky to have.
Sadly, one factor has overshadowed that talent and continues to plague his career, even in the heat of summer.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Mitchell discussed his rehab process for the right calf strain he sustained in the Conference Finals.
"We've been on top of it as soon as we heard the news [about the strain] and have been working on it ever since, and we're close to being back to 100 [percent]," Mitchell said.
In other words, it's mid-July, and Ajay Mitchell still hasn't returned to full health. Now, nearly two months removed from the initial strain, Mitchell admitting he's less than 100 percent is the last thing OKC should want to hear.
Thunder must take Ajay Mitchell injury history into account
Mitchell's constant injury status is rapidly approaching the norm at this point.
In two years, he has played in just 57.4 percent of the Thunder's total games. It begs the question of whether or not the front office should come to expect this yearly trend from the Belgian baller moving forward.
His recent comments are a reminder that, while he has been reliable on the court, his dependability to be active for extended periods of time is an entirely different conversation.
Having the difference-maker fail to consistently make an impact due to availability concerns has to be one of the more maddening things coach Mark Daigneault has had to deal with over the past couple of years.
At $2.8 million, Mitchell's contract remains one of the biggest cheat codes in the league. Of course, in two seasons, he will be up for a brand new payday. If he continues to progress as he did in 2025-26, the price to keep him will presumably be quite lucrative.
The Thunder must keep his health in mind if they decide to retain him after the 2027-28 season, as the injuries might just be baked into the cake at this point. When entering contract discussions with the point guard, general manager Sam Presti has to remember he is signing up for elite-level play, but in about 60.0 percent of games.
With the front office set to face numerous difficult roster decisions over the next few years, Mitchell may become expendable if he can't prove he can stay healthy for a full season.
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