OKLAHOMA CITY - With Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren all sidelined early in the 2026-27 season, the Thunder’s injury situation has shaped most of the conversation around the team. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell have kept Oklahoma City moving, and Mitchell in particular has stepped into a bigger offensive lane.
Mitchell is putting up 17.8 points per game on 50.5% shooting, along with 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals. He has scored at least 20 points in four of the Thunder’s last five games, a stretch that includes a career-best 30 points in a 125-114 win over the Phoenix Suns last week.
That surge has not gone unnoticed by head coach Mark Daigneault, who said Mitchell’s progress has been obvious since September and started with his body before carrying over to his play. Daigneault pointed to the way the third-year guard has grown into his role while Oklahoma City has been forced to lean on him more heavily.
“He's awesome, obviously. He did a great job with his body.
His game continues to season. He's always been a really good player, but he's tightening up,” Daigneault said.
“One of the things that the really, really good players learn is that there's going to be ups and downs in a 48-minute game. There's going to be ups and downs in a season, and you just continue to bet on your work.
You continue to bet on your game. You continue to bet on your talent.
I think that's one of Shai's superpowers. But it's hard for young players to do that.”
Mitchell, a second-round pick in the 2024 draft, has never spent time in the G League, and Daigneault said he came into the league ready to contribute right away. The coach said Mitchell’s confidence and willingness to stay aggressive have helped him develop into the player he is now.
“You just gotta keep betting on it and let your talent rise to the surface,” Daigneault added. “I think Ajay's taken a step there.
He understands that not every quarter is going to be perfect. Not every game is going to be perfect.
But he stays aggressive. He stays inside of his game.
He's been very impressive with so far this season.”
For Mitchell, the formula has been simple: keep reading the floor, keep flowing with the offense and keep attacking without letting mistakes get in the way. That approach has helped him find the right balance between pressing too hard and disappearing.
“Just reading the game, seeing what’s available, and just flowing with our offense,” Mitchell said after beating the Cavs. “I just try to be aggressive in every possession - offense and defense - and then, just read the game. Going out there without worrying about mistakes - just going out there to play basketball.”
Gilgeous-Alexander has done his part too, combining for 85 points in Oklahoma City’s two most recent wins over the Cleveland Cavs this week. The Thunder now turn to an NBA Cup matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
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