Bennett Stirtz's dynamic preseason debut further validates Oklahoma City's faith in him

In his first season as head coach, Ben McCollum took Iowa men's basketball to heights we haven't seen in 30 years.

McCollum guided the Hawkeyes to their first Elite Eight since 1987, and Bennett Stirtz was a major reason why. Stirtz began his college career with McCollum at Northwest Missouri State before following him to Drake and finally Iowa, improving every season. He made the jump from mid-major to Division I look a lot easier than it is, prompting Oklahoma City to select him in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. With the NBA regular season approaching quickly, Stirtz continues to reward the Thunder for their faith in him.

Stirtz went off in his preseason debut, proving OKC made the right choice

Stirtz was a force for the Hawkeyes last season, averaging a team-leading 19.8 points and 1.4 steals per game, along with 4.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds. Stirtz was already on the radar of multiple NBA organizations after his solid 2024-2025 campaign with Drake, but he decided to return to school for his final collegiate season to join McCollum at Iowa. After OKC selected Stirtz with the No. 16 overall pick, he consistently proved why he will force his way into the rotation with multiple high-level performances in the NBA Summer League.

In five NBA Summer League games, Stirtz averaged 14.4 points and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 45 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arc. He continued his hot stretch of play with another solid performance, this time against the New Orleans Pelicans in the Thunder's first 2026 preseason game.

Stirtz and fellow first-round pick Aday Mara both had strong preseason debuts, with Stirtz tallying 15 points on 6/9 shooting, including 3 made threes, six assists, and five rebounds. Stirtz's shot was locked in, and he made several solid pick-and-roll passes to teammates, something he excels in. Stirtz's size and age were two of the biggest concerns coming out of Iowa, but his elite court vision, long-range shooting ability, and fitness will get him into games early this year. Stirtz is used to having the ball in his hands at all times, and he rarely comes off the floor. While he likely won't start many games this season, he can make an impact when he enters games with his offensive skill set.

It is unclear whether OKC will use him more on the ball as a lead guard or off the ball as a shooting guard, but he is clearly best suited as a lead guard where he can control the pace of the offense. He has already impressed the Thunder organization with his talent and willingness to make sacrifices for the team's well-being, so regardless of his role, he will make the most of it. Coming off the bench will be completely new for Stirtz, who has played almost every minute of every game since his sophomore year in college, and it will take some getting used to.

Stirtz won't simply come into an NBA organization and be the best player like he was in college, but his work ethic and workmanlike attitude will serve him well at the next level as he begins his NBA journey.

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