OKLAHOMA CITY (Oklahoma) - Belgium could add some rocket fuel to its engine in a bid to reach the FIBA Basketball World Cup, if Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell joins the team for this summer's European Qualifiers.
"I'm going to do everything I can to be there," said Mitchell, looking ahead to Belgium's games against the French and Hungarians in July, in an interview with RTBF.be (Radio Télévision Belge Francophone).
"Playing for the national team is something I really care about, but it has to happen at the right time."
This summer would certainly be the right time for the Lions, who are in need of a jolt after four straight defeats in the opening two windows.
Finland, France and Hungary are ahead of Belgium in Group G. The top three will advance to the Second Round.
I'm going to do everything I can to be there
Mitchell would be an important addition to Julien Mahe's Belgium team, which has been plagued by scoring droughts in the European Qualifiers.
He just averaged 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 22.3 minutes per game in the Oklahoma City's 4-0 sweep of the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference First Round playoff series. He buried 9 of his 20 attempts from 3-point range.
Mitchell had his best regular season, with his scoring average more than doubling to 13.6 points per game from the 6.5 points per game average in 2024-25.
As for the Belgium team he could join? The Lions' European Qualifiers record should be better.
They have three losses by a combined 10 points.
Belgium's biggest margin of defeat was a 79-63 setback to France in Rouen, which was Mahe's first game in charge. The Lions led for most of the opening half and early in the second but Les Bleus finished stronger
In their next game in the opening window against Hungary, Belgium had the crowd behind them at home as they roared back from a 15-point deficit late in the third quarter to lead 83-79, with less than three minutes to go, yet the visitors scraped a 87-85 victory.
In the second window, Belgium blew a 13-point lead at home against Finland and fell, 71-66. A few days later as visitors in Espoo, they were on top of the Susijengi by 10 but lost 78-75.
Will Mitchell be there when Belgium will host France on July 3 and play at Hungary on July 6.
"We'll see, we still need to have discussions," the player said.
Mitchell is now fully focused on Oklahoma City's title defense.
"Then, once the season is over, there will be an opportunity to talk," Mitchell said. "The goal is to be there, but we'll see where we stand with the team and how I feel at the end of the season."
"There's a chance, but nothing's set in stone. We'll see."
And if Mitchell doesn't make it this summer?
"I see the long term with the Lions, it's something that appeals to me," he said, before adding he wants to "see how things go" before making a decision for July.
FIBA