With Lu Dort gone to the Atlanta Hawks, the Thunder have a real opening on the wing heading into training camp, and Ajay Mitchell has made a strong case to be the one who steps into it.
The conversation in Oklahoma City has narrowed to Mitchell and Cason Wallace for that spot, but Mitchell’s rise over the past season gives him real momentum. The third-year guard is coming off a breakout sophomore year after injuries slowed his rookie season, and the only thing that really kept him from pushing even further was more bad luck on the health front.
Mitchell put up 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in 2025-26, while shooting 48.5% from the field and 34.7% from 3-point range. He made 16 starts in 57 games and spent much of the year as a steady Sixth Man of the Year contender before multiple injury issues in February forced him out for an extended stretch. Even without hitting the 65-game minimum, the media still voted him the fifth most deserving player for the award.
The postseason only added to the sense that Mitchell was trending up. He came back strong in the first two rounds, averaging 18.8 points across sweeps of the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers, and 22.5 points per game in the second-round series. Then another injury interrupted the run in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Mitchell struggled in Game 1 of that series, started to settle in during Game 2, and then suffered a calf strain early in Game 3. The injury was serious enough that he was still working through it into the offseason.
"Obviously being out here doing rehab and getting stronger, getting my calf ready, and that's really it," Mitchell said during his end-of-season media availability. "I don't really have any other things to do right now but just get healthy."
That recovery now matters even more with the Thunder’s roster in flux. Mitchell is expected to carry a role as important as last season’s, if not bigger, and the organization is looking for continued growth from a player who has taken a step forward every time he’s been healthy enough to play.
He has already confirmed he will skip the EuroBasket pre-qualifiers so he can focus on the upcoming season, and the expectation is that he’ll be fully healthy when camp opens. If he stays on the floor for a full season, the award chatter could get even louder - whether it’s Most Improved Player or Sixth Man of the Year.
However it shakes out, Mitchell looks primed for another jump.
In Other News...
SGAs Father Defends The Thunder Star Fans Love To Debate
Vaughn Alexander is not shy about defending the style that has made his son one of the NBAs most debated stars. The father of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently spoke up in support of the Thunder guards approach, making the case for a game built on getting downhill, drawing contact and living at the line rather than chasing the kind of high-volume three-point diet that has come to define so much of the league.
For Oklahoma City, it is also part of the formula that helped fuel a breakthrough season. Gilgeous-Alexander won MVP after averaging 31.1 points per game and taking 9.0 free throws per game while shooting 87.9 percent from the stripe, a profile that has driven plenty of conversation around how he scores and why it works. The debate never really goes away, but the Thunder keep benefiting from a player who keeps forcing defenses to pay for every step toward the rim. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder May Have A Frontcourt Piece Fans Are Overlooking
The Thunders rookie class is drawing most of the summer attention, but Thomas Sorber is the kind of frontcourt addition that can quietly change the conversation once camp opens. The 2025 first-round pick is finally on track for his NBA debut after sitting out his first year with an ACL injury, and Oklahoma Citys roster churn has only made the path a little more interesting. In a system that values length, mobility and interchangeable defenders, Sorber gives the Thunder another young big worth tracking beyond the usual headlines.
What makes the situation worth watching is the blend of readiness and uncertainty around his role. Sorbers recovery is moving in the right direction for training camp, and his appeal goes beyond just being another body in the paint, with defensive versatility and possible offensive upside both part of his profile. Oklahoma City has plenty of options in the frontcourt, which means the competition for minutes will be real, but it also means Sorber could be one of the more intriguing pieces in the mix if he shows he is ready to hold his own. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Williams Just Reminded Thunder Fans What OKC Is Missing
Jalen Williams spent much of last season on the sideline, a frustrating follow-up to the breakout year that helped push the Oklahoma City Thunder to a championship. Injuries never really let him settle in, with two wrist surgeries and multiple hamstring strains limiting him to 33 regular-season games and just two full playoff games, a reminder of how much his presence matters when he is actually on the floor.
Even with the lost time, the expectation inside OKC remains the same: Williams is a cornerstone piece, and the Thunder are counting on him to get back to the form that brought All-NBA, All-Star and All-Defense recognition. If he does, it changes the ceiling for a team that already knows what a healthy, high-level Williams can mean in a championship chase, especially with 2026-27 circled as the next big window. [Read more 🡒]