SportSpyder - The Latest Oklahoma City Thunder News

01 May 2026

• [Fan Nation] - The Thunder's Playoff Path Is Becoming Clearer
  The full playoff path for Oklahoma City is starting to take shape. The Oklahoma City Thunder are still waiting to see who their round two opponent will be, as
• [Down to Dunk] - How the Sixers shocked Boston (bench only scored six)
  Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
• [Daily Thunder] - The Shai Infowars
  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's legacy is being written as we speak. The media is getting the story very, very wrong.
• [Last Word on Sports] - Rise In Ajay Mitchell’s Stats Mirror 2012 OKC James Harden
  By now, it’s hard to argue that the Oklahoma City Thunder is doing fine even on the floor. In fact, we are seeing a much more confident Thunder squad than last year. Their high level of play was astounding for many. Now they’re carrying that confidence with the rest of the team stepping up well. As OKC moves to the second round, fans are noticing just how ‘s stats are slowly mirroring ‘s numbers from 2012. for the team. After all, Sam Presti was confident in selecting him with the 38th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Oklahoma City did its scouting well and now boasts one of the league’s best young talents. What’s even better is that he’s just a second-year player. However, he was already gunning for both the Sixth Man of the Year and even the Most Improved Player had it not been for his injuries. Rise In Ajay Mitchell’s Stats Mirror 2012 OKC James Harden Right now, it goes without saying that Mitchell’s value is rising, much like a stock’s. We’re seeing him produce at a high, efficient, and effective level for the Thunder. With still on a week-to-week basis with his hamstring injury, his rise to prominence could not have come at a much better time. It’s easy to see why fans and critics are getting the same vibes as 2012 Harden with him. Mitchell Has Been Impressive So Far No one can deny that Mitchell has been a great player for the Thunder. He’s been finding ways to contribute and show his value off the bench. We’ve seen him open up his games with promising assists and even . While he’s spent most of his rookie season with an injury, he has had some great strides early on. The 2025-26 season was a benchmark of what he has to offer at a small sample game size. Sure, his injuries may have been bad this season, but his elite level of play is on par with the standard that OKC brings to the table. If you are not impressed, Mitchell has been averaging 13.6 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 57 games. That’s the most he’s had in his two-year career so far, with both years being plagued by injuries. He’s now playing second and third fiddle to and , acting like the Swiss Army Knife that OKC needs aside from their main stars. Give me your thoughts on what you think Ajay Mitchell's ceiling is. Been spending most of the day thinking about how much of a luxury his emergence has been. — Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) What makes the sophomore guard even more valuable is his ability to generate off the bench. As you may well know, the Thunder bench runs deep. But all of its tools need some sharpening, and Mitchell is the one you use to keep those tools operational. The fact that he can either come in as a replacement for SGA or a co-playmaker on the floor solves a lot of problems for OKC. In the series against Phoenix, Mitchell averaged 15 points, five rebounds, and 3.8 assists with 45% shooting from three. He also had a postseason-high of 22 points in the with 4-of-6 from three. Now that’s a huge performance from your sixth man. 2012 James Harden Is As Crucial As 2026 Ajay Mitchell By now, it’s safe to say that Mitchell is drawing a lot of comparisons to the 2012 version of Harden. To be fair, this has been the closest thing that OKC has in comparison to the then-11-time All-Star and 2018 MVP. Harden averaged 16.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 20 games for the Thunder in the 2012 playoffs. Those numbers come close to Mitchell’s own playoff stats so far, which have shown immense value on his end. Ajay Mitchell this postseason: — 15.0 PPG — 5.0 RPG — 1.0 SPG — 2.3 3PM — 45.0 3P% Leading the playoffs in plus/minus. — StatMuse (@statmuse) The fact that Harden was the third scoring option for OKC at that time shows just how good Mitchell is. Mitchell is originally the fourth scoring option for Oklahoma City. With J-Dub sidelined, the scoring load slightly tilts to the guard, giving him more responsibilities and a spotlight to prove his worth. Luckily, another major difference for this year’s Thunder is that their than the previous iterations. For Mitchell to average closer to Harden’s playoff numbers is such a major win for the team. It’s proof that he’s thriving now more than ever. As the second round looms for the Thunder, either the Lakers or the Rockets will bring out more of his game. J-Dub may be sitting out all the way to the Western Conference Finals. If anything, this is the chance for Mitchell to prove more of his worth with the team and define his value across the rest of the league. This would just prove that Mitchell is definitely a steal for OKC and probably will be a shining star in the years to come. Featured Image: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
• [The Oklahoman] - Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell 'never afraid of the moment' in larger role in NBA Playoffs
  Ajay Mitchell continues to have an expanded role for the OKC Thunder this postseason while Jalen Williams is sidelined due to injury.
• [Basketball Poetry] - The NBA lottery reform is good, actually
  On test drives, rewarding the wrong things, sacrificial lambs, and fairness
• [The Oklahoman] - Have any Thunder questions as OKC awaits Lakers-Rockets in NBA Playoffs? Ask us anything
  With the OKC Thunder awaiting either the Los Angeles Lakers or Houston Rockets next in the NBA Playoffs, The Oklahoman is hosting a Reddit AMA.
• [Fansided: Thunderous Intentions] - Isaiah Joe is the only solution to quietly concerning Thunder issue
  Isaiah Joe has the potential to completely course-correct a glaring weaknesses of the OKC Thunder this postseason.
• [The Oklahoman] - How to buy OKC Thunder tickets for second round of NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center
  The OKC Thunder has advanced to the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. Here's how you can buy tickets.
• [The Oklahoman] - Lakers or Rockets? Which would Thunder rather play next in NBA Playoffs?
  The Thunder awaits its next NBA playoff opponent. Which team poses a bigger threat, the Lakers or the Rockets?