RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesAs the calendar is about to flip to August, we're entering the NBA's yearly drought. All the big-time offseason moves are done. Teams across the league are content with their roster. Now, we endure two months of mostly silence before the 2026-27 season starts.
And with international games being sprinkled in throughout the summer, the Oklahoma City Thunder won't have much rooting interest. Still recovering from a season-ending soleus strain that cost him the final four games of the 2026 Western Conference Finals, Ajay Mitchell recently confirmed he won't suit up for Belgium in the 2029 FIBA EuroBasket pre-qualifiers.
Mitchell told Belgium's Sporza he won't suit up for his home country. It will face the Czech Republic in a Group G matchup on Thursday, Aug. 27. It's the first of three group games. The other team in Group G is Norway. The other two group matchups will occur in Nov. 2026 and Feb. 2027.
There are four groups involved in the second round of the 2029 FIBA EuroBasket pre-qualifiers — Groups D, E, F, G. Each group has three countries in it. The four group winners will advance to the 2029 FIBA EuroBasket qualifiers.
"August is too tight for me. I need to be ready for the NBA, so I will be training then. But of course, I will follow the Lions ," Mitchell told Sporza. "The goal is definitely to be there next summer. I want to play a good season in the NBA and then come to the national team in top form. The timing has to be right. I need to be 100 percent fit. But it is certainly going to happen, hopefully next summer."
Mitchell enjoyed a breakout season last year. He turned into OKC's Sixth Man. The 24-year-old averaged 13.6 points on 48.5% shooting, 3.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds. Alas, injuries have hindered him through two NBA seasons. He's played just 93 regular-season games and had his playoff debut prematurely ended due to a soleus strain.
Only two active NBA players are Belgian. Mitchell and Toumani Camara. Because of that, those two will be the faces of Belgium's basketball program for the next decade. Expect the Thunder to keep an eye on their international games over the next couple of summers. Just like it's the case with the United States, Canada and Spain.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Ajay Mitchell reveals status for Belgium's 2029 FIBA EuroBasket pre-qualifier
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