Former Hawkeye Bennett Stirtz lit up the Summer League and the preseason in his first taste of NBA action, but has had a slow start to the regular season.
In his one season with the Hawkeyes, Stirtz led the team in scoring (19.8), assists (4.4), and steals (1.4) per game. As the competition got tougher, so did Stirtz, and Oklahoma City noticed. They moved up to draft Stirtz with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and he rewarded the organization with solid offseason play. The regular season is now three games in, and although Stirtz has started slowly, he finally got on the score sheet.
Stirtz scored his first NBA points in an OKC win over the Los Angeles Clippers
Stirtz earned praise for his work ethic and shooting, prompting the Thunder to take a chance on him in the middle of the first round. At 23, he is older than most players in his draft class, but he brings a veteran presence, high basketball IQ, and elite shooting that every organization wants. Stirtz got off to a slow start this season because the Thunder have an extremely deep team, but he makes the most of every chance he gets on the court. In a season-high 11 minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers in game three of the regular season, Stirtz notched an important milestone.
Bennett Stirtz’s first points in the NBA. https://t.co/phGxkfuV5s
— Tyler Tachman (@Tyler_T15) October 26, 2026
Wth seven minutes left in the second quarter, Stirtz picked off a pass at the top of the key and took it all the way to the other end for a breakaway slam. In typical Stirtz fashion, he read the play well, jumped the passing lane, and scored his first NBA points. Stirtz probably hasn't played as much as he'd hoped early this season, but he is an extremely hard worker, and that work ethic will earn him more playing time down the road. We also can't forget how talented Oklahoma City is, only two years removed from their NBA Championship. The Thunder are loaded at guard, making it hard for Stirtz to crack the rotation, but he has the skills and intangibles to do it.
Coming off the bench is a role Stirtz isn't familiar with after playing nearly every minute of every game for the past three years. He never wants to leave the floor, and adjusting to his new role can't be easy. If anyone can do it, Stirtz can, and he's always been a team-first guy. Every organization covets depth, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Stirtz's role expand as the season progresses. Hawkeye Nation is behind him, and it will be interesting to see how his rookie season goes.
It is still too early to determine Stirtz's long-term role, but he is in a good spot in OKC, learning from one of the NBA's best lead guards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. For now, all he can do is take those lessons and apply them to become the best player he can be. His main goal is to help OKC return to the promised land, but Iowa fans just want him to be in the lineup more often.
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