Though the majority of attention may be on the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams when it comes to OKC Thunder players who could be heading out to All-Star Weekend this February, Ajay Mitchell is someone who certainly deserves recognition as well.
No, this is not a case for the sophomore to participate in the main exhibition; rather, it is that he needs to be included in the Rising Stars Challenge on the Friday before.
Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell deserves to be in Rising Stars Challenge
The aforementioned bout consists of rookie, sophomore, and standout G League players who have managed to shine bright during their brief stints in the association.
Needless to say, guys like Dallas’ Cooper Flagg, San Antonio’s Stephon Castle, and Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher are viewed as virtual locks to be involved in the contest, as they are some of the bigger-name talents who have drawn in the most eyes over this first half of 2025-26.
However, though perhaps done at a quieter rate, Mitchell has been equally as impressive.
Despite only being a second-round selected talent, here in year two, the Thunder guard has established himself as one of the best players from the 2024 NBA Draft.
Through 39 games played with the reigning champions, Mitchell is posting tremendous all-around averages of 14.1 points (fourth among sophomores), 3.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals (first among sophomores) while shooting 47.8 percent from the floor and boasting a plus-minus of +9.4 (second among sophomores).
Of course, his elite impact doesn’t only just rise above the majority of those from his draft class, but also players with any specified range of years of experience strewn across the league.
Among those who have seen at least 25 games played this year, Mitchell finds himself ranked fourth in defensive rating (101.3) and sixth in net rating (16.0).
On top of everything, however, the point guard finds himself playing a vital role in the top-seeded Thunder’s on-court attack, as he places fifth on the team in net rating (16.0) and second in plus-minus (+9.4) while seemingly usurping their established All-NBA forward in J-Dub as the ideal running mate to the league’s reigning MVP.
Unlike the majority of presumed headliners for the Rising Stars Challenge, he’s doing all of this while predominantly coming off the pine.
Though he may not have the most allure that other top-flight young prospects innately do, from the eye test and counting stats to the deep-dive advanced metrics, it would be an absolute travesty if Thunder fans didn’t see Ajay Mitchell participating in this year’s All-Star Weekend festivities.
