Heading into the 2026 NBA Draft, not everyone in the Oklahoma City Thunder's fanbase was convinced they needed to add a guard.
The general consensus was that they should target frontcourt talent— likely in the form of one of the three Michigan players projected to go in the lottery— and perhaps move off of the 16th overall pick for future draft capital. The Thunder ultimately kept both selections, and their decision to do so is already paying massive dividends.
Stirtz has looked strong in his Summer League showings, even when the team as a whole hasn't. He's displayed a varied offensive package and an ability to play both on-ball and off-ball consistently.
With the departure of Luguentz Dort seeming more and more likely and the team at a need for additional ball-handling insurance, Stirtz has suddenly answered Oklahoma City's most crucial offseason concern. Even if he doesn't see a major role as a rookie, he's provided the Thunder with much-needed flexibility in the backcourt heading into 2026-27.
Bennett Stirtz is the exact injection of versatility the Thunder backcourt needed this offseason
Although the Thunder remained winless in Summer League after a tight game with the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night, Stirtz emerged from the bout with his best performance of the summer under his belt. Across nearly 30 minutes on the court, Stirtz posted 22 points, two rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block while shooting 8-of-16 from the field.
His 3-point shot hasn't been super consistent in this small sampling, but everything else in Stirtz's game looks more polished than even many of his supporters would've imagined. He's shown an ability to attack closeouts and sink floaters and driving layups with ease, and he's also shown some flashes as an on-ball defender.
What makes Stirtz such a perfect fit for the Thunder is his versatility. Although he was largely on-ball during his college career as a point guard, he has the catch-and-shoot and relocation abilities to play the two-spot consistently at the NBA level.
If Dort is gone this offseason— along with Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe— Oklahoma City will need additional 3-point shooting wherever it can get it. Toss in Stirtz along with Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell at the SG spot, and he's got a clear role lined up.
But Oklahoma City also discovered how injuries can decimate the viability of its offense in last season's playoffs. With Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell out for much of their Western Conference Finals matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, the Thunder simply didn't have enough ball-handling— enough players who could keep the offense from becoming stagnant and predictable— at their disposal.
Stirtz provides both those things even as a rookie, and his summer league showings have proved that wholeheartedly. Even if he's sat behind McCain, Mitchell, Cason Wallace, and even perhaps Nikola Topic on the depth chart, his versatility now completes the backcourt in Oklahoma City.
Add us as a preferred source on Google