The OKC Thunder officially ousted the Phoenix Suns from playoff contention on Monday, completing a four-game sweep and marking the third year in a row that they have sailed past the first round in this manner.
Furthermore, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored his second consecutive 30-plus point game, Chet Holmgren’s offensive output returned to life, and players such as Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and Lu Dort all played exceptional defense en route to the team’s 131-122 victory.
Despite all of the incredible individual and team accomplishments, Ajay Mitchell’s genuinely remarkable effect on this club should thrill supporters while also scaring opposing teams as Oklahoma City moves ahead.
Ajay Mitchell establishes himself as a rising star for Thunder.
Just the other day, huge guy Jaylin Williams told reporters that he and the rest of the Thunder are constantly learning about and are still amazed by how excellent Mitchell is on the court.
Simply put, it is because the point guard finds a way to improve his game with each day that passes.
Even before the playoffs, Mitchell had proven himself as a key contributor to the defending champions due to his very effective, all-around approach of play.
From his career-best averages of 13. 6 points, 3. 3 rebounds, 3. 6 assists, and 1. 2 steals per game to the mere fact that OKC had only lost one game with him in the starting five this season, the 23-year-old has been a net positive all season.
It’s no wonder he finished in the top five in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Now, with the pressure and stakes at their highest, and he has been asked to fill in for All-NBA forward Jalen Williams in the first five lineup while he recovers from a left hamstring injury, it has become painfully obvious that Mitchell is much more than a role player. He’s a star on the rise.
In 29. 3 minutes each game against the Suns, Mitchell averaged 15. 0 points, 5. 0 rebounds, 3. 8 assists, and 1. 0 steals while shooting 45. 0 percent from beyond the arc and finishing with the second-best plus-minus on the Thunder for the series at plus-18. 3.
In his close-out victory on Monday, he had a game-high 22 points on 66. 7 percent shooting from beyond the arc, along with six assists and four rebounds, and a game-high plus-minus of plus-27.
When both he and Gilgeous-Alexander share the court, the Thunder rank in the 99th percentile in both points per 100 possessions and point differential. Furthermore, the team is now 17-1 in all 2025-26 games with Mitchell in the starting lineup, indicating that this already title-tested club has improved significantly with the sophomore now breaking onto the scene.
Given that he is on a declining deal with the Thunder through 2027-28 and has a maximum salary cap percentage of 1. 94, the rest of the league should not expect to see this emerging talent leave the already dynasty-pushing Thunder club anytime soon.
