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Thunder Sign Iowa Guard Bennett Stirtz to $22.8 M Deal

6/24/2026

Summary

Thunder Sign Stirtz

Thunder acquired Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz after Memphis drafted him No. 16 and traded him for the No. 17 pick.
He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $22.8 million.
Stirtz averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and shot 47.7% from the field and 35.8% from three-point range.
He earned All-Big Ten honors, helped Iowa reach the Elite Eight by beating No. 1 seed Florida, and became Iowa’s 12th first-round NBA pick.

Summary

Stirtz Impresses

Stirtz recorded a 37½-inch vertical and a 3.17-second ¾-court sprint on May 11, ranking fourth fastest.
He made 20 of 25 spot-up attempts and tied for third in off-the-dribble shooting among 26 prospects.
Scouts say his 6-2½-inch height and modest athleticism will need weight to keep scoring efficiency in the NBA.
The Athletic and ESPN mock drafts place him 17th-21st, naming Oklahoma City, Toronto, Detroit or the Charlotte Hornets as possible teams.

History

Historical Context

The 2003 NBA draft on June 26, 2003 handed the Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James as the first overall pick, inaugurating a rookie-scale salary system that still governs first-round deals. Decades later the Oklahoma City Thunder exercised that system, signing Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz, the 17th pick, to a four-year, $22.8 million contract, underscoring the escalating economics of early-round selections.

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Thunder Sign Stirtz

Thunder acquired Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz after Memphis drafted him No. 16 and traded him for the No. 17 pick.
He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $22.8 million.
Stirtz averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and shot 47.7% from the field and 35.8% from three-point range.
He earned All-Big Ten honors, helped Iowa reach the Elite Eight by beating No. 1 seed Florida, and became Iowa’s 12th first-round NBA pick.

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