The Oklahoma City Thunder are now down to their final games after a grueling, injury-riddled campaign. With the first seed nearly in their grasp, there are other problems worth worrying about. As the season winds to a close, OKC needs to figure out its final rotation. But which Thunder bench player deserves more minutes?
We all know how deep and talented this roster can be, but not everyone can play 30 minutes per game. This is what makes Oklahoma City a dangerous opponent to face. Their flexibility and willingness to let each other shine are a start. But the way they blend, no matter who sits and plays, is just mind-boggling.
As the best team in the NBA, there’s a certain set of expectations for the Thunder. The OKC bench, for starters, is a notable piece of the team that completed the puzzle last season. Now that there’s a new playoff push coming in, fans are keen to know who gets to play more and who will make an impact in the coming games. It’s a new race to the top of the NBA world, and Oklahoma City wants to make history with the hopes of a repeat.
Which Thunder Bench Player Deserves More Minutes?
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is still figuring out his rotation this late into the season. Of course, it’s easy to expect that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams would be getting the most of the playing time available. However, we would have to consider a few tweaks for both Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort, who are starting to get back to their consistent form. Still, a huge question mark looms over Daigneault’s elite bench that has been incredibly worth praising this season.
So, which Thunder bench player will get to shine on the big stage regularly?
1. Ajay Mitchell
For what it’s worth, Ajay Mitchell would have been the Sixth Man of the Year had it not been for his injuries. This season, he is averaging 13.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game, a huge leap from his rookie year. Mitchell has been a revelation so far. In fact, the Santa Barbara product is one of the most efficient players in the squad. If you’re not impressed, you may be shocked to learn that he is OKC’s third-leading scorer so far, even with only 54 games played.
Ajay Mitchell has posted the second-best defensive field goal percentage among NBA sophomores this season.
1) Ariel Hukporti — 38.5%
2) Ajay Mitchell — 40.1%
3) Yves Missi — 42.9%
4) Jaylen Clark — 43.3%
5) Stephon Castle — 43.9%
T5) Karlo Matkovic —… pic.twitter.com/YWTcD1w4s1— SleeperThunder (@SleeperThunder) March 29, 2026
This says a lot about Mitchell’s emerging role within the roster. After all, it’s been a while since they’ve had a truly remarkable sixth man since James Harden in 2012. Now, it seems the sophomore guard will see a lot of playoff action as the Thunder will need more of his production. As we’ve seen this season, Mitchell has provided an additional spark for the squad with his ability to drive and create plays inside the paint. In fact, he is capable of drawing a lot of defenders in the paint and coming up with an acrobatic finish. That’s a promising skill to look out for, especially if the Thunder end up facing notable shot-blockers like Victor Wembanyama.
