Aday Mara may be the OKC Thunder rookie getting the most attention for his preseason play, but Bennett Stirtz has produced at a level that suggests he may very well be the biggest steal of the 2026 NBA Draft.
That is, at least, as far a guards are concerned.
In this past draft class, six of the top 10 players selected were guards, and nearly half of the talents taken in round one were as well.
After five games played in the preseason, there's a case to be made that the No. 16 selected Stirtz has performed better than all of them.
Despite being forced to play a rather foreign style of ball compared to his collegiate game, the Iowa product still managed to dominate on the hardwood, posting stellar averages of 14.6 points (fifth among all rookies), 3.6 rebounds (fifth among rookie guards), and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and an electric 48.4 percent from deep.
He would also lead all rookies in made triples with 15.
Though OKC may have quite a lethal collection of firepower on their roster, with their troop ranging from superstars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to seasoned veterans like Alex Caruso, following the offseason departures of Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins, they desperately needed someone who could help make up for these vacated wing minutes and the lost half-court offense.
Midway through the draft, the Thunder seem to have snatched up the ideal prospect to address these very needs.
Talk about the rich getting richer!
Thunder not concerned about Aday Mara's former club drama
On Friday, reports from a local newspaper out in Spain, Heraldo de Aragon, said that Aday Mara's former team, Basket Zaragoza, will be trying to block his transition from international play to the NBA.
The club is doing so based on their claim that they hold his playing rights and, in order for him to make the jump to the Thunder, they'll need a financial settlement to be reached.
Though this buzz may have initially sparked concern among fans, Oklahoma City has since quelled any fears that the lottery-selected pivot is at risk of missing time during his rookie year, as a team spokesperson has since addressed the situation by revealing that his three seasons played in the NCAA cancel out the notion that he'd need clearance from the Spanish team to play in the NBA.
Needless to say, this is an encouraging response from the Thunder to say the least.
Mara truly dominated during his five preseason games with OKC, as he averaged 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.4 blocks while shooting 78.8 percent from the field.
Heading into a championship-or-bust campaign, the Thunder are hoping to have this momentum from their 7-foot-3 behemoth carry over into the regular season and through the playoffs.
Add us as a preferred source on Google