Oklahoma City Thunder Unveils Huge Major Update

The Oklahoma City Thunder have two promising young players who could back up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the point guard role.             

Ajay Mitchell might just be the biggest sleeper on the roster. In his rookie season, he’s already shown significant development in limited playing time and impressed during the Summer League.

On the other hand, the Thunder also have Nikola Topic, a former lottery pick from the 2024 draft whose stock dropped due to injuries. The Serbian guard debuted for OKC in the Las Vegas Summer League and is expected to see minutes as well.

So, the Thunder have two capable players vying for the backup point guard role. Both are still developing, but it’s clear they’ll both likely play important minutes this season.

So, who will get the backup role behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?

At this point, Mitchell has the upper hand. He’s already spent a year in the system, meaning he’s familiar with the playbook and ready to contribute without much of a learning curve. He’s proven he can compete at the NBA level and has earned his spot in the rotation.

However, Topic is also a player too skilled to keep off the floor. While he’ll need time to adjust to the NBA’s pace and speed, his ability to make smart decisions and distribute the ball means he should be ready to contribute from day one.

The adjustment to the NBA will likely be a challenge for Topic. Early struggles were noticeable during the Summer League, showing areas where he might face growing pains in his rookie year.

For now, Mitchell holds the claim to the backup spot on the depth chart. That said, there’s no reason both players couldn’t share the floor at times, and they’re not the only players on OKC’s bench capable of handling the ball. Both Mitchell and Topic have traditional point guard skills, but they could also play off the ball if needed.

Ultimately, both will need to make the most of their opportunities and continue to make smart decisions running the offense. There’s plenty of potential for both to succeed in this role as they continue to develop.