Ajay Mitchell found himself unexpectedly earning real rotation minutes for the Thunder last season despite being on a two-way deal. His rookie campaign was disrupted by a toe injury that sidelined him for an extended stretch.
Yet, Oklahoma City still chose to convert him to a standard contract in February and later secured him on a team-friendly multiyear agreement as a restricted free agent.
Mitchell explained to Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman that the long recovery period actually benefited him by giving him time to study, adjust, and get mentally ready for his second year.
That preparation has shown, as the former UC Santa Barbara standout has taken a significant leap forward – elevating his production in nearly every category while showing clear improvement on both offense and defense.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and Finals MVP, praised Mitchell’s natural instincts and overall polish.
“He’s just a really good basketball player,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “His feel for the game is what jumps out right away. He just understands how to play. It’s almost like when you’re playing with him, it’s like a pickup game.
“He doesn’t need a play called for him. He doesn’t need too much structure. He just goes out there and figures out a way, makes the right basketball play, plays hard and wins. He makes it easy for me.”
Northwest Notes: Markkanen, K. George, A. Mitchell, Wolves https://t.co/5a45mh9sGz
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 2, 2025
