In the initial week of the 2026 NBA playoffs, a series of annual awards were progressively unveiled by the league. With the 2025-26 regular season concluded, all ballots have been cast and tallied. The Oklahoma City Thunder found themselves prominently featured in one of these competitive categories.
The NBA officially declared on Wednesday that Keldon Johnson was the recipient of the 2025-26 Sixth Man of the Year accolade. Johnson accumulated a total of 404 voting points, comprising 63 first-place votes, 28 second-place votes, and five third-place votes. A review of the complete voting breakdown revealed Ajay Mitchell's commendable fifth-place finish.
Mitchell secured four second-place votes and 17 third-place votes, amassing a total of 29 points. Jaime Jaquez Jr. was the runner-up, Tim Hardaway Jr. placed third, and Naz Reid ranked fourth.
Mitchell experienced a phenomenal season, demonstrating remarkable growth and performance. He concluded the season with an average of 13.6 points per game, shooting an efficient 48.5% from the field, alongside 3.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds. He participated in 57 games, starting in 16 of them. Notably, the Sixth Man of the Year award does not enforce the 65-game eligibility requirement.
As the top team in the NBA standings, the Thunder's dominance naturally led to various commendations. It is anticipated that stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren will also receive significant recognition as the league continues to announce its award winners.