The Oklahoma City Thunder have hit a rough patch of late.
They're 5-5 in their last 10 games even with their defeat of the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. They've dealt with extensive injuries, including lengthy absences for Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
However, there is hope on the horizon. The All-Star Break is coming up, giving the team much-needed rest heading into the home stretch of the season, and Jalen Williams looked strong in his return. With their star trio of Williams, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Chet Holmgren back, all should be copacetic, right?
Unfortunately, Oklahoma City still has no clear timetable for the return of Mitchell, who suffered an abdominal strain on Jan. 21 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
As Andrew Schlecht of The Athletic recently pointed out, his absence has been felt heavily. Until he returns, the Thunder won't truly be at full strength, highlighting a brutal truth about their championship hopes.
The Thunder's depth is key, and injuries could tank their season faster than anyone realizes
This season, Mitchell has been a revelation for Oklahoma City. Prior to his injury, he was averaging 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while knocking down 35% of his attempts from the perimeter. He's a highly important ball-handler and scoring presence for the team's bench unit.
Schlecht, in a tweet he sent out on Tuesday, outlined some numbers from Cleaning the Glass detailing just how important Mitchell has been:
Ajay Mitchell's absence has been felt
According to @cleantheglass
with Ajay ON and Shai OFF the Thunder are a +12
Ajay ON and both Shai and Dub OFF .... +14.7
His ability to contribute to a functional offense as a lead handler and be a positive defender has been huge for…
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) February 10, 2026
Of course, the Thunder's stars are what set their championship ceiling. Gilgeous-Alexander has cemented himself as one of the league's premier players, and Williams has become a worthy counterpart. Holmgren, meanwhile, is in play for Defensive Player of the Year after taking major strides as a shot blocker.
For Oklahoma City, that won't be enough.
They reached the summit last year as a result of their insurmountable depth. Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, and a number of other contributors played massive roles in the postseason.
This year, it looks as though Mitchell is poised to be that player when he returns from injury. But this leaves the Thunder with little room for error.
If injuries derail their depth at the wrong time, things could quickly go south. More than many teams, they are dependent upon their bench unit to pull out the dominant wins they have become accustomed to.
Mitchell's role is highly important, but these numbers are a microcosm of a greater truth. As much as Oklahoma City has invested in their stars, it is the play and the availability of their role players that will determine the outcome of their season.