The Defending NBA Champions Are Better.The Reason Is Their Lowest-Paid Player.

As the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched last season's championship, Ajay Mitchell played less than one minute. This year, he's a key reason they're even more dominant.

- ROBERT O'CONNELL

Ajay Mitchell, a former second-round pick, is the lowest-paid full-time player on Oklahoma City's roster. He is averaging 16.1 points per game.