If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wants to win another NBA Championship, he needs better offensive support behind him. And one thing that would really help is if the Jalen Brunson comparisons start to catch up to Ajay Mitchell. Bill Simmons said that Mitchell reminds him of Brunson, and if he can live up to that billing (or close to it), SGA would definitely have some offensive firepower alongside him.
This is what Simmons had to say back in November: “The way he’s playing reminds me a little of when Brunson was on Dallas,” Simmons said. “Brunson had this stretch on those Dallas team where you’d watch him and be like, is this guy really good or am I crazy? Could this guy be the lead guard on a really good team, or am I crazy? And you just watch him. He was like this finished product, and he was kind of this luxury on the side for the Mavs. And I just wonder, with Mitchell, I’m sure these other GMs are looking at this Thunder team, going there’s no way they’re going to be able to pay all these guys.”
OKC needs to keep Mitchell, and they need him to keep hooping.
SGA would love Ajay Mitchell to inch closer to his Jalen Brunson comparisons
Obviously, expecting Mitchell to take a leap like the one Brunson has enjoyed since leaving the Dallas Mavericks for the New York Knicks is beyond hopeful.
Brunson just won an NBA Championship, and he was able to reach the next level because the Knicks gave him a level of offensive freedom that the Mavericks never did alongside Luka Doncic.
But if Mitchell can slowly but surely inch closer and closer to the player Brunson has become, then it would give SGA more than enough offensive support to gun for another championship.
And to be clear, the Thunder have a solid offense. Mitchell, even without another leap, is a great offensive player. And Jalen Williams can create, too. Both were just hurt in the Western Conference finals, when the Thunder lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
However, getting even more from Mitchell would put the Thunder – and SGA, in particular – in an even better spot. And perhaps they can help Mitchell get there.
Put the ball in his hands even more. Let him run the show even more. See what else he’s able to do, and maybe the Thunder will reap the rewards.
Maybe the Thunder will have their very own version of Brunson playing alongside SGA.
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