The Oklahoma City Thunder are coming off a championship, which was won with a good mix of star power, depth, and good execution. Since then, the Thunder have not undergone massive changes, but a certain Ajay Mitchell has broken out as one of the Thunder's best players this season.
It has been an impressive sophomore season for Mitchell, who was a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Now, he is one of the most reliable players on the defending champions' roster, which did not have many changes from their championship campaign to this season.
Daigneault loves what he has seen from Mitchell
This season, Mitchell has more than doubled his averages from his rookie year. Mitchell is averaging 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He is also contributing on defense with 1.5 steals per game. It has been a superb second season for Mitchell, as he has carved out a big role for himself in head coach Mark Daigneault's system.
Considering Mitchell was a second-round pick from the previous year's Draft, he has continued to work hard to earn his spot. In the long run, Mitchell's rise could be the blueprint that second-round picks will follow, as he worked hard behind the scenes, and it earned him a spot in the regular rotation.
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On New Year's Eve, the Thunder played against the Portland Trail Blazers. It was the fourth meeting between the two teams, which involved a Trail Blazers win in one of them. Since then, the Thunder have been on a mission to avenge their loss to the Blazers, winning the rest of their meetings.
Mitchell made sure to contribute in the New Year's Eve game, as he scored 17 points without missing from the field or the free-throw line. It was such an impressive performance that Daigneault poured in the praise.
"He's obviously a very talented player and a really impactful player, really efficient player. It's hard to establish yourself and be on the gas on a team that's really good... Not being afraid, and being on the gas, but also doing it in a way that's not inappropriate with what the rest of the team is doing. He's got a great diet on that. It's really impressive," Daigneault said after winning against Portland.
Mitchell has convinced the Thunder's coaching staff that he deserves to be in every game. He is not only an efficient player, but he also plays with a much more level head than most people realize. At only 23, Mitchell plays like a seasoned veteran, which is much needed in a younger Thunder team.
Moving forward, Mitchell appears to have secured a role for himself. It will be a challenging role, but he is prepared to keep contributing and impressing everyone within the Thunder organization.
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