{"id":135202,"date":"2026-05-21T00:52:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T03:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/oklahoma-city-thunder-guard-ajay-mitchell-is-never-shaken-by-the-moment\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T00:52:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T03:52:57","slug":"oklahoma-city-thunder-guard-ajay-mitchell-is-never-shaken-by-the-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/oklahoma-city-thunder-guard-ajay-mitchell-is-never-shaken-by-the-moment\/","title":{"rendered":"Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell is never shaken by the moment"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Most NBA fans outside of Oklahoma are probably just getting familiar with the name Ajay Mitchell<\/a>. The second-year Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> guard has made a name for himself during these NBA playoffs while stepping into the starting lineup for injured 2025 NBA All-Star Jalen Williams.<\/p>\n

As for Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates, they were familiar with Mitchell from just after the 2024 draft, when the team traded with the Knicks to acquire him in the second round.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt might be a shock to the world,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander recently told the media, \u201cbut it\u2019s not to us. We knew who Ajay Mitchell was the day he stepped foot in our building, and he\u2019s just showing it to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thunder forward Chet Holmgren told Andscape: \u201cI\u2019ve been an Ajay fan since before [his rookie] season.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Thunder have been without Williams, who averaged 17.1 points per game during the regular season, since he strained his hamstring in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns. Mitchell has started in Williams\u2019 place in the six games since, averaging 21.2 points and scoring a playoff career-high 28 points to help eliminate the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of a second-round playoff sweep last week.<\/p>\n

While Williams could return for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Mitchell deserves credit for helping the Thunder not miss an offensive beat during his absence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know what I can do when I go out there,\u201d Mitchell recently told reporters. \u201cI just want to compete and help this team freely. Every time I step on the court, I want to be a winning player and help this team. That\u2019s really what has been on my mind every time I play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Said Gilgeous-Alexander: \u201cHe\u2019s a gamer. Works super hard. He\u2019s never shaken by the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since an injury sidelined 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell has averaged 21.1 points per game in six playoff games.<\/p>\n

Juan Ocampo\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mitchell was born in Ans, Belgium, on June 25, 2002. He is the son of former HBCU standout Barry Mitchell, a Virginia native who played forward at Norfolk State and went on to a professional career in the Continental Basketball Association and in Belgium and France. Ajay Mitchell was also once teammates with Spurs center Victor Wembanyama with Paris Nanterre 92\u2019s Under-19 team.<\/p>\n

While keeping his amateur status, Mitchell played in his home country for Limburg United\u2019s senior team during the 2019-20 season. He came to America in 2021 after accepting a basketball scholarship at UC Santa Barbara.<\/p>\n

Mitchell made an immediate impact for the Gauchos, averaging 11.6 points, 3.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds and being named 2022 Big West Freshman of the Year. The 2024 Big West Conference Player of the Year averaged 16.3 points as a sophomore and 20 points as a junior.<\/p>\n

He entered his name into the 2024 NBA draft and impressed scouts with his performance at the NBA pre-draft camp that year. Agent Todd Ramasar believed his client had the potential to be an impact player before the draft, noting his European experience would be an asset.<\/p>\n

\u201cOffensively, he was a true three-level scorer,\u201d Ramasar told Andscape. \u201cHe knocked down 3s, had a reliable midrange, and was exceptional getting downhill and finishing in the paint. That ability to get to the rim and convert separated him. Defensively, he held his own at his position. At 6-foot-4, he had real positional size growing up as a point guard, paired with a high basketball IQ.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fundamentals he learned playing in Europe at a high level, combined with the influence of his American father, gave him a complete package. It reminds me a lot of Tony Parker\u2019s background and the total game that came out of it. He also showed the ability to play on and off the ball, primary or secondary ball handler. That versatility is exactly what today\u2019s championship-level teams have on their roster, and it\u2019s a big reason for what you\u2019re seeing from him now.\u201d<\/p>\n