Can Ajay Mitchell Win 6MOTY for the Thunder?

What’s Mitchell’s Case for the Sixth Man of the Year?

Let’s get started with the fact that this claim may sound really hypothetical. For starters, Ajay Mitchell is nowhere near the likes of De’Andre Hunter (+900), Naz Reid (+1,000) Anfernee Simons (+1,200), or even Tari Eason (+1,400). The mentioned players are the leading candidates for the 6MOTY. Of course, these are all based on their previous performances last season.

While there’s not much buzz for the Sixth Man of the Year award just yet, Mitchell is sure making his presence felt now more than ever. OKC is 5-0 as of the time of writing, which is the third time in the franchise. In that span, Mitchell has been averaging 18.2 points, 3.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds on 47.4% shooting.

If you want further proof of his impressive development and sudden rise in value, let his stats tell you all about it. His 18.2 points per game are the third-most in the Thunder this season. He’s only behind reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (34.8 ppg) and rising star Chet Holmgren (23.0 ppg). That says a lot about his value now more than ever, especially with Jalen Williams still recovering from his wrist surgery.

Mitchell is providing the necessary firepower that OKC needs. He is stepping up big time to begin the campaign. To be the third-scoring option in the best team in the NBA and the defending champions shows a lot of reason why he should be in the 6MOTY talks.

Can Mitchell Outperform the OKC Bench?

Being able to contribute in a huge way is a start for Mitchell. But now he has to set himself away from the most competitive pack of bench players. So far, he’s only one of two bench players for the Thunder to average scoring in double figures. The other man is Aaron Wiggins, with 14.2 points per game, and he’s an entirely story of his own.

That’s an impressive mark for a sophomore player from Santa Barbara. He missed a huge chunk of the previous season due to injury. The Thunder guard is showing that he can be an invaluable piece in the long run. The mere fact that he dropped a career-high 26 points in just the second game of this season versus Indiana says a lot.

But let’s be clear. Wiggins is definitely a fan favorite and has been able to prove his worth over the years. Mitchell, on the flip side, is starting to grasp his skills and show that he can be a reliable player too. Cason Wallace, who is another impressive player off the bench, is currently averaging 7.3 points per game. The trio of Mitchell, Wiggins, and Wallace are enough to strike up Sixth Man of the Year conversations with the way they are playing right now.

However, it does seem that Mitchell is making the best out of his 2025-26 season as of late.

Can Ajay Mitchell be a Promising 6MOTY Candidate?

Provided that he stays healthy enough to play more games and continue his impressive tear, Mitchell may just rise in the 6MOTY odds, and probably Most Improved Player, too. Of course, this is an end-of-season award, meaning he has to carry the same pace through all 82 games. If the 23-year-old wants to show that he can have the last word in the Sixth Man race, he has to continue developing.

Luckily for Mitchell, he’s playing for the best team in the league. One that has a knack for developing young talent. With the way things are for OKC, you can expect Mitchell to continue to hone his skills. Who knows, maybe he would end up as the next spark off the bench that the Thunder needs. That’s just scary hours for the defending champs and the rest of the league.