Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topic battle for OKC Thunder backup spot

It is difficult to say what the 2024-25 iteration of the Oklahoma City Thunder – a team that ultimately won an NBA championship in a seven-game series – had holes in its roster.

The offense was dominated by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and several others, while the defense was a team effort featuring several of the league’s best on that side. OKC played unselfishly, communicated on defense, got out in transition and thrived in the half court.

Looking ahead, however, there are a few loose ends that need to be addressed if the team hopes to repeat. And strengthening his backup point guard will certainly be part of that. With its MVP on the bench, the offense was prone to some periods of lethargy, unable to break down the first line of defense due to the lack of real hustle from the ball handlers.

The Thunder’s roster is set and will likely remain that way throughout the season. The organization’s top decision-makers, general manager Sam Presti and head coach Mark Daigneault, are rightly confident in what they’ve built.

With that in mind, the team’s options for the backup point guard position will be two 2024 rookies: Nikola Topic and Ajay Mitchell.

For now, Mitchell would be the favorite to lead ball handling off the bench, as well as playmaking. Last season, he quickly worked his way into Daigneault’s rotation, displaying a polish rarely seen in new NBA guards.

He played 16.6 minutes per game, adding 6.5 points on 50% shooting, with 1.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Offensively, he looked well ahead of schedule, bombarding the paint with speed and thriving off the ball. Defensively, he was also solid, moving his feet and pushing the ball.

Mitchell ultimately suffered an injury that would somewhat derail his new season, but showed enough promise in his short stint. And a strong second Summer League in Las Vegas helped keep that image alive.

Despite his talent level, Mitchell will have competition in Topic. At 6-foot-5, he was selected 12th overall in the 2024 draft. He was previously considered one of the top options in the class, but suffered a knee injury that caused him to slide. OKC had the patience to take a chance and could be rewarded in the future.

Topic’s claim to this spot will be his first pass and feel for the game, which was evident during his own Summer League streak. He averaged 7.3 assists per game in Las Vegas, showing plenty of scoring and defensive prowess as well.

Both Mitchell and Topic are certain to earn playing time in Daigneault’s system – he is known for moving deep into the rotation and trying dozens of different alignments. But only one is likely to hold down the backup point guard spot heading into another big playoff run.

We might get an idea of ​​who it will be at preseason training camp, although things will likely materialize more solidly early in the season.