LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder’s remarkable depth has long been the envy of the NBA, and it continues to fuel their championship aspirations as they chase a second straight title. The latest player to rise from that deep roster and capture national attention is Ajay Mitchell, who has stepped into the spotlight while filling in for injured teammate Jalen Williams during the playoffs.
Mitchell delivered career playoff highs of 24 points and 10 assists without a turnover in the Thunder’s 131-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. The Belgian guard has become the newest piece of general manager Sam Presti’s formidable machine, proving he is ready to contribute to Oklahoma City’s growing dynasty. Perhaps only his teammates are unfazed by his emergence.
“Yeah, he’s a gamer,” said MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “Works super hard. He’s never shaken by the moment. It might be a shock to the world, but it’s no shock to us. We knew who Ajay Mitchell was the day he stepped foot in our building, and he’s just showing it to the world.”
The Thunder remain unbeaten in the postseason, holding a 3-0 series lead in the second round. Their advancement to the Western Conference finals appears a formality, largely thanks to Mitchell. He quickly took on an increased offensive load five games ago after Williams suffered a hamstring injury. In the second round, Mitchell has also compensated for the Lakers’ strong defensive focus on Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been limited and erratic by his own high standards.
“I know what I can do, and when I go out there, I just want to compete and help this team win and play freely,” Mitchell said. “Every time I step on the court, I want to be a winning player and help my team. That’s really what’s been on my mind every time I play.”
Mitchell was especially impressive in the second half of Game 3, racking up 18 points and seven assists while taking charge of the game at the start of both quarters. He led the Thunder’s 21-6 run out of halftime, paving the way for a third straight blowout victory. Against the Lakers, Mitchell is averaging 20.7 points per game, shooting 53.3% from the field, committing only three turnovers, and dishing 20 assists while playing strong defense.
After Williams went down in Game 2 of the first round against Phoenix, Mitchell moved into the starting lineup for Game 3 and initially shot 5 for 20. His teammates remained fully supportive, and Mitchell has been outstanding since.
“He’s just finding his footing,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s his first run in the playoffs, and it’s obviously a different ballgame. He’s just getting more and more comfortable as the game goes on, as the series goes on. … I was never worried that he wasn’t going to figure it out, and he’s shown that.”
Growing up in Europe, Mitchell played three collegiate seasons at UC Santa Barbara, about an hour from downtown Los Angeles, and was selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. As a rookie last season, he contributed 6.5 points per game in 36 regular-season contests, earning an early role in the Thunder’s rotation before missing nearly the entire second half of the regular season with turf toe. He averaged just 8 minutes per game during the postseason title run, but Presti and coach Mark Daigneault saw enough to re-sign Mitchell to a three-year, $9 million contract—a deal that already looked like a steal before his playoff breakout.
Mitchell has proven he can create and score, but he also earned Daigneault’s trust through his defensive contributions. Daigneault acknowledges Mitchell’s postseason inexperience, but that has not prevented the coach from relying on him in crucial moments.
