Ajay Mitchell: Difference between revisions

Belgian basketball player (born 2002)

Ajay Mitchell (born 25 June 2002) is a Belgian-American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Mitchell has also played for the Belgium national team.

Mitchell grew up in Ans, Belgium.^[1] At age 17, he moved to France for a period of a few months, where he played thirteen games in the under-18 team of Nanterre 92, along with Victor Wembanyama, among other teammates.^[2] He began playing for Limburg United‘s youth team in 2019 and made two appearances with the senior team in the Pro Basketball League during the 2019–20 season.^[3]

Mitchell played solely with the senior team during the 2020–21 season while maintaining his amateur status. After the season, he committed to playing college basketball for UC Santa Barbara.^[4]

Mitchell played in 27 games during his freshman season and was named the Big West Conference Freshman of the Year and second team All-Big West after averaging 11.6 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game.^[5] He averaged 16.3 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game and was named the Big West Player of the Year during his sophomore season.^[6]

On 27 June 2024, Mitchell was selected with the 38th overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 2024 NBA Draft; however, immediately on draft night, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the 40th overall pick in the 2024 draft and cash.^[7] On 6 July, Mitchell signed a two-way contract with the Thunder.^[8]

On 10 January 2025, Mitchell was ruled out for 10-to-12 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a turf toe sprain in the great toe on his right foot.^[9] On 6 February, the Thunder officially converted Mitchell to a standard contract, signing him to a two-year contract.^[10] On 22 June, the Thunder won the NBA title, making Mitchell the second Belgian NBA champion, after D. J. Mbenga. On 30 June, Mitchell re-signed with the Thunder on a three-year, $9 million contract.^[11]

Mitchell played for the Belgium under-18 team, before making his debut with the senior team at age 18 in 2021.^[2]

Mitchell’s father, Barry Mitchell, played college basketball at Norfolk State and professionally in the Continental Basketball Association and World Basketball League before playing and settling in Belgium.^[4]