Thunder two-way player Ajay Mitchell continues to see his role expand. The 6’5” rookie wing has scored in double digits in three of the last five games.
Mitchell was chosen with the No. 38 pick of the draft and acquired in a draft night deal with the Knicks. Oklahoma City heavily scouted Mitchell, who played collegiately for Santa Barbara.
“(GM Sam Presti) loved him from the jump,” coach Mark Daigneault told Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman. “I can remember (Presti), all the way back into last season, he was on the road watching him, and I remember him telling me about him before I ever laid eyes on him.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said Mitchell was a revelation in training camp.
“His situation coming into the season, you might not have expected this — I certainly didn’t. But after being with him for the first couple weeks of training camp and preseason, you can see where he’s going with it,” the All-Star guard.
We have more on the Thunder:
- Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has already endorsed SGA as the league’s MVP in an interview with ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. The Thunder star scored 40 points in an eight-point victory over Minnesota on Tuesday. “I don’t know if they could give it to [Nikola Jokic] again,” Edwards said. “Yeah, I would say Shai. Yeah, he’s looking like the MVP, man. He was incredible once again tonight. He’s consistent every night. His team gonna give him the ball and just let him rock out every night. It’s nothing to think about. ‘Hey, get Shai the ball and he going to get busy, and then we’re going to figure it out after that.’ I love watching that. It’s incredible, man. If he is keeping him like that, I hope they give [MVP] to him this year for sure. I feel like he should have won it last year, but he’s playing out his mind right now.”
- Chet Holmgren is itching to get back on the court, Gilgeous-Alexander told Lorenzi (Twitter link). “(Tuesday) he came in the locker room and said that he’s ready to go through shootaround with us. Typical Chet Holmgren. … I can’t imagine the game being taken from me like that. … for him to be on his way back, can only imagine how it feels. To see that smile on his face again, it’s very exciting.” Holmgren is recovering from a pelvic fracture suffered in November. On Nov. 11, he was given a timeline of eight-to-10 weeks for a reevaluation.
- In case you missed it, Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week. Get the details here.
Antaclaus ????
SGA put 40 on him. Thunder send message to TWolves. Thunder look real lols. And no Chet.
IHart has been great pickup…..
They are looking great, everyone plays a role. They can look very SGA dependent with Jalen being the 2nd dependent if you look at the stats. They still play with a good flow. No need to rush Chet back as that was a scary injury, he needs to be fully healed.
Agree man. For such a young team. To have that flow is impressive. SGA didn’t even take a bad shot. Team is solid
What impressed me the other night is the thunder defense. Timberwolves couldn’t even get an offense going on some sets down the court.
That smothering athletic wing Heavy athleticism is just too much sometimes. Thunder are loaded and one of their best players is out.
Could be going to the finals this year…, is now the time? They need that third guy and it’s probably SGA, Chet, then Jalen Johnson. That’ll get it done.
I love their lockdown guys too.., Dort and Caruso. Definitely built to win.