Thunder may have found another young star in Bennett Stirtz

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Bennett Stirtz. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Thunder may have found another young star in Bennett Stirtz

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Oct 12, 2026 11:15 PM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder may have found a gem in Bennett Stirtz, a guard who was one of the best players in college basketball last season.

After an impressive collegiate campaign, Stirtz is already turning heads in the preseason, giving Oklahoma City another intriguing young talent to watch as it looks to build on its recent success.

Bennett Stirtz has been outstanding in the preseason

Stirtz was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft but was immediately traded to the Thunder in exchange for two second-round picks.

Many were curious to see exactly how Stirtz would fit into the Oklahoma City rotation, and if the preseason is any indication of what it'll look like, Stirtz will fit in just fine.

In three preseason games, Stirtz has averaged 20.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Of his 36 shots attempted, 22 have been from three-point range, and he's knocked down 13 of those, good for a 59% clip from deep.

OKC rookies Bennett Stirtz and Aday Mara stuffed the stat sheet in tonight's preseason action!

Stirtz: 26 PTS (game-high), 4 REB, 5 AST, 6 3PM (game-high)
Mara: 17 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST, 4 BLK (game-high) pic.twitter.com/RdYhKVTVdR
— NBA (@NBA) October 13, 2026

Bennett Stirtz in preseason:

20.3 PPG
4.7 RPG
4.3 APG
58% FG
59% 3PT pic.twitter.com/4B0vd8skNJ
— Real App (@realapp) October 13, 2026

Another elite three-point shooter would be dangerous for Oklahoma City

Much like the shot selection in the preseason, Stirtz will spend most of his time shooting from three-point range. Last season, Oklahoma City averaged the 13th most three-point attempts per game (37.9) and shot the ninth-highest percentage (36.5%).

Stirtz certainly isn't going to shoot nearly 60% for the entirety of the season, but he was a 37.2% shooter in his two collegiate seasons, a better number than the Thunder's team percentage last season.

If he is able to produce at anywhere near the levels he did in both college and the NBA preseason, Oklahoma City has another young stud in an already loaded core of young and standout players.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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