By any and all accounts, the 2024 NBA Draft was not very strong. Therefore, if a Sophomore of the Year award were to be introduced for the 2025-26 season, its winner might well be a player who almost went undrafted. Enter Ajay Mitchell, a 6’6” wing for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Selected 38th overall as a junior out of UC Santa Barbara, Mitchell’s draft position was modest. However, despite that lowly billing, the Belgian international appears to be on track to become one of the NBA’s standout sophomores in the coming season. With the Thunder holding an impressive cache of first-round picks, it might be a second-round gem like Mitchell who emerges as their next breakout young star.
### Thunder’s Next Draft Heist
Mitchell was originally drafted by the New York Knicks but was immediately traded to the Thunder in exchange for the draft rights to Oso Ighodaro and cash considerations. As a rookie, he played in 36 regular-season games. Without a three-month injury layoff, he would have seen even more court time, as he arrived in Oklahoma City ready to contribute from day one.
During his rookie campaign, Mitchell’s efficiency stood out. He averaged 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in just 16.6 minutes per game, shooting an impressive 49.5% from the floor and 38.3% from beyond the arc. Such shooting prowess is remarkable for a second-round pick and was exactly the kind of skill he needed to showcase to adapt to a new, more limited role compared to his college days.
In his final collegiate season, Mitchell averaged 20.0 points per game. Transitioning to the NBA, he needed to prove he could thrive as an off-ball shooter — and he did just that.
The Thunder demonstrated faith in Mitchell’s long-term potential by converting his two-way contract into a standard NBA deal during his injury recovery. This past summer, they re-signed him to a multi-year contract, signaling their belief that he could develop into a meaningful rotational piece and possibly take on an expanded role.
### Mitchell’s Expanding Role
In the early stages of the 2025-26 season, Mitchell has already exceeded expectations. Though the sample size is small, he has emerged as a star sixth man for the Thunder.
Operating as a key third-guard option behind the team’s premier backcourt of reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace, Mitchell provides reliable spacing, sharp shooting, and sound decision-making across multiple positions. He is receiving more minutes, encouraged to attack defenders in space, shoot confidently when open, and play aggressively within a Thunder offense focused on ball movement, perimeter shooting, and pace.
In the first three games of the season, Mitchell has been electric. He scored 12 aggressive points in just 15 minutes during the double-overtime opener against the Houston Rockets. In the follow-up double-overtime game versus the Indiana Pacers, Mitchell poured in 26 points across 38 minutes, showcasing a barrage of drives and cuts to the basket.
In the Thunder’s third game, a victory over the Atlanta Hawks, Mitchell delivered a near-perfect all-around performance. Playing 29 minutes off the bench, he posted 14 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals — all without committing a single turnover.
### Looking Ahead
Mitchell was a shot-creating combo guard in college, and his best NBA potential lies in being allowed to fulfill that same role at the professional level. While his college career highlighted his scoring and all-around game, transitioning from a role player to one with increased responsibility often brings growing pains for many young players.
Through three games, however, Mitchell has shown none of those struggles. The multi-year contract he recently signed is already shaping up to be an incredible bargain for the Thunder. If he continues on this trajectory, Ajay Mitchell might not only be the Thunder’s next breakout star but also a strong contender for the Sophomore of the Year honors in 2025-26.
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunders-ajay-mitchell-could-be-sophomore-of-the-year/