2026 NBA draft: Grading OKC Thunder's selection of Bennett Stirtz

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After a jam-packed first day of the 2026 NBA draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder injected some much-needed youth into the back end of their roster. They selected Iowa's Bennett Stirtz with the No. 16 pick. To acquire him, they sent the Memphis Grizzlies the No. 17 pick and two second-round picks in a trade-up move.

Ahead of an offseason forecasted with plenty of change, the Thunder added an offense-first player. Stirtz can space the floor as a high-volume outside shooter. He's also shown enough at the college level to be a secondary ball-handler.

Stirtz had quite the journey to reach this point. He started his four-year college career at D-II school Northwest Missouri State. He then transferred to Drake before his last year was spent at Iowa. He averaged 19.8 points on 47.7% shooting, 4.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds this past season. He shot 35.8% from 3 on 6.9 attempts. The 22-year-old is a 6-foot-3, 186-pound guard.

Let's break down the draft pick and hand out a grade for Stirtz's addition:

Stirtz's background​

As referenced earlier, Stirtz had a Disney-esque rise to the NBA. He had to roll up his sleeves and work his way up the basketball totem pole. He spent two years at D-II's Northwest Missouri State. Tying himself to head coach Ben McCollum, he followed him to Drake. Once again, he made the same move as both parties leapfrogged to Iowa for his final college year. The move paid off as he went from an average, forgettable D-II player to a borderline NBA lottery pick within four years.

Adding to his old-school college stint, Stirtz was a blast from the past at Iowa. He was a 20-point scorer who also cosplayed as Iron Man. He averaged an eye-popping 38 minutes for the Hawkeyes. That includes playing the full 40 minutes in every March Madness game on their way to the Elite Eight. Talk about durability. That alone helped his draft stock rise.

And then Stirtz took being Iowa's offensive engine well. He filled his plate with responsibility. He was their top scorer and did it at all four levels — from the outside, in the mid-range, at the cup and at the free-throw line. The primary ball-handler grew up fast. In the predraft process, he was usually mocked around the lottery range, so it shouldn't be a shocker to see him taken at No. 16.

Stirtz's fit​

This is all about continuing OKC's lineage of high-feel offensive players off the bench. The Thunder have traded Aaron Wiggins and could soon lose other important pieces over the years. That means a vacuum of minutes and shot attempts are up for grabs. That's where Stirtz could come in. He can fit the microwave scorer role as someone who can run the offense and thrive playing off the ball.

The outside shot is what stands out the most. Not only did Stirtz shoot a good percentage, but he also did it on high volume at the college level. There's always a demand for outside shooting. You can never have enough of it. Especially for such an inconsistent halfcourt offense as OKC has had over the last few years. That should be the basketball department he helps out with the most from the first day.

Beyond that, though, Stirtz has some well-roundedness intrigue. He was Iowa's primary ball-handler. Pretty good feather for your cap, considering it was at the Big Ten level. He showed he can seamlessly run a pick-and-roll. He has some spiciness in his game as a passer. Not exactly super bursty or athletic, he manipulates angles like a high-school geometry teacher. He knew when to make the best decisions depending on what the opposing defense conceded. There's definitely room for him to grow as a secondary ball-handler. At the very least, OKC's ball-movement won't stop with him.

Stirtz's long-term future​

I think it's pretty easy to project Stirtz's future in OKC. The Thunder are banking on him to make up for some of the Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and others conglomerate that should likely leave in the coming summers. Such is life in the NBA. They will need to shed players as their payroll skyrockets for the rest of the decade. One of the best ways to do that is with cheap, young talent. And the 22-year-old is at the top of the casting list for that.

It'll be interesting to see how Stirtz ups his game. With each level-up in competition, he's been on par with it. That type of scaling is exciting to think about. Considering how long and excruciating the NBA's regular-season marathon is, I think he could help out right away. Which is a nice change of pace. Injuries and illness have forced OKC's last two top picks — Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber — to get sidelined in their first years. At the very least, he'll be a catch-and-shoot threat. At the very most, he'll be one of OKC's best shot-makers with creative angles to get to his spots.

This move is all about making sure the Thunder don't get stagnant on offense. They've done a better job at avoiding that in the halfcourt over the years. Stirtz should help with that. He's not just a stationary guy who'd be too scared to take more than one dribble. He oozes confidence as a guy who can finesse his way around a defender to put up a quality shot attempt at all three levels. That's the best way to make sure Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't buried in double-teams and triple-teams.

Final thoughts​

Honestly, I like Stirtz's addition. The Thunder addressed both sides of the ball with their top two picks. And he helps out the side that needs more help. He'll help out as a complementary role player. On the ball, he can run some of the second-unit offense. Off the ball, he'll take advantage of all the attention Gilgeous-Alexander commands when he drives to the rim.

And it's pretty obvious the Thunder loved Stirtz. Always an aggressor at the NBA draft, they paid the price of a couple of second-round picks to move up one spot. Sam Presti's tradition continues of at least one trade-up during the two-day event. Specifically speaking, OKC sent Memphis the most favorable 2030 second-round pick between Denver, Miami and Houston; then a 2033 OKC second-round pick.

Now, we've talked all about his offense. But what about the other side of the ball? Can Stirtz be competent enough to stay on the floor on defense? We'll see. He averaged 1.4 steals at Iowa. But that was mostly from making timely gambles in the passing lane. He's not super quick on his feet. And that weakness will likely get exposed at the NBA level. But his technique is sharp and his defensive floor is sound. What he lacks in physical tools, he makes up for in IQ.

Let's see if the Thunder can help glue-stick together Stirtz being a decent-enough defender to stay on the floor in the highest-pressure moments. That's going to ultimately decide if he's a true difference-maker. But with enough high-end defenders on your roster, surely they can drum up something — as long as he's not a straight-up traffic cone. But his motor and work ethic suggest otherwise.

Final Grade: B

Stirtz's highlights:​

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: 2026 NBA draft: Grading OKC Thunder's selection of Bennett Stirtz

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