When the Oklahoma City Thunder added Bennett Stirtz with the No. 16 pick of the 2026 NBA draft, they're envisioning a high-end role player. The hope is that he can help them out for the remainder of their current contention window.
Through two NBA preseason outings, Stirtz has lived up to the bill. He's scored a combined 35 points on a sizzling 12-of-20 shooting. Aside from Aday Mara's fever-pitch hype, he's been the second-biggest headline. Still incredibly early, but the returns are promising that both of OKC's 2026 first-round draft picks could be Day 1 contributors.
That's something the Thunder obviously need. They moved on from Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins this past offseason in cost-cutting moves. All three were longtime role players
who helped OKC graduate from a rebuild to an NBA champion. That's also about a quarter of their rotation minutes from last year.
For Stirtz, his biggest adjustment will be downsizing in his typical role. Through his four-year collegiate career in stops at D-II's Northwest Missouri State, Drake and Iowa, the 23-year-old has been each school's respective main engine. Entire offenses revolved around him. Now, at the NBA level, he's a complementary piece.
How does Stirtz feel about that? He's all about helping the Thunder win from the jump. Specifically, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The two-time MVP winner is going to demand the full attention of opposing defenses. That should open the floor for the others on the floor. That's where Stirtz comes in. There's a reason why he was universally viewed as one of the more pro-ready prospects in the 2026 NBA draft.
"Whatever the team needs me to do to win, I'm going to do," Stirtz said. "It is easier when you have the best player in the world out there to make the game easier for you. Whatever I can do to help everyone else, I'll do it."
The Thunder have a vacuum of minutes and possessions up for grabs. Stirtz can easily snatch some of those in the upcoming 2026-27 regular season. After being the focal point of every collegiate offense he played for, he's going to have less stress on his legs as a catch-and-shoot threat who leverages Gilgeous-Alexander's ridiculous gravity.
Seldom do you see NBA draft lottery prospects spend any time of their journey at a D-II school. But Stirtz has carved out a pretty unprecedented path to get to this level. At every one of his stops, he's made leaps as a basketball player. We'll see if he can continue that trajectory in OKC.
Bennett Stirtz on playing off-ball: “Whatever the team needs me to do to win. It’s easier when you have the best player in the world out there.” pic.twitter.com/fuAwENtEkx
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 9, 2026
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Bennett Stirtz ready to help Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in new off-ball role
