Full Breakdown
Bennett Stirtz Becomes First-Round NBA Draft Pick, Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder
6/24/2026, 11:53:10 PM
Draft Night Transaction
On June 23 2026 the Memphis Grizzlies selected Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz with the 16th overall pick of the NBA Draft. Within minutes the Thunder acquired his rights in exchange for the 17th pick and two second-round selections, completing the trade before the draft concluded. The move gave Oklahoma City a veteran-level point guard after a season that ended with an Elite-Eight appearance for Iowa.
From Division II to the NBA
Stirtz began his post-high-school career at Northwest Missouri State, where he earned MIAA Freshman of the Year (2022-23) and a second-team All-MIAA nod as a sophomore. He followed head coach Ben McCollum to Drake for the 2024-25 season, winning MVC Player of the Year and guiding the Bulldogs to their first Round-of-64 win since 1971. McCollum recruited Stirtz again to Iowa for the 2025-26 campaign, where he became the program’s first player in 26 years to lead in points, assists and steals.
College Production and Metrics
In his lone Iowa season Stirtz posted 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 47.7 % from the field, 35.8 % from three-point range and 84.8 % from the free-throw line. He logged a career-high 37.2 minutes per contest and recorded a usage rate of 26.1 %. At the NBA Combine he measured 6-2½ ft (186 lb) with a 6-6 ft wingspan, a 37.5-inch vertical, a 30.5-inch no-step vertical and a 3-quarter-court sprint of 3.17 seconds, ranking fourth among 26 participants.
Official Statements & Responses
The Grizzlies announced the selection on their official channel, noting the trade would provide additional second-round assets. Oklahoma City’s front office confirmed the acquisition, emphasizing the need for a “high-feeler” guard to complement Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. GM Sam Presti posted on X, “Sam Presti believing in Bennett Stirtz reveals he’s NBA ready.” Head coach Mark Daigneault called Stirtz shortly after the trade to discuss his role. Iowa head coach Ben McCollum remarked, “It was just four years of work and being coached by me… earning his way to the NBA.” Spotrac listed Stirtz’s rookie contract at four years, $22.8 million.
Criticism & Concerns
Analysts highlighted Stirtz’s modest size (listed between 6-2½ and 6-4) and limited athleticism as potential drawbacks at the professional level. Defensive evaluations described him as “acceptable” but noted a lack of point-of-attack stopping ability and limited rebounding for a guard. Concerns also centered on his ability to sustain shooting efficiency against NBA-level physicality.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Stirtz’s exact height: the Combine report lists 6-2½ ft, while a KCTV article cites 6-4 ft. Mock-draft projections varied widely, ranging from No. 17 (ESPN) to No. 31 (CBS) before the combine, and post-combine estimates placed him between No. 17 and No. 21. No public scouting report detailed his defensive metrics beyond “acceptable,” leaving a gap in quantitative evaluation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “16 pick Bennett Stirtz to the Oklahoma City Thunder for two second-round picks.” — Shams Charania, NBA Draft Analyst
- “Super excited to just start creating relationships with everyone,” — Bennett Stirtz, Draft Prospect
- “That's pretty much the number one question on in every interview. Can you play off the ball? Because we didn't get to see that,” — Bennett Stirtz, Interview with SwarmCast
- “Bennett Stirtz has become an expert in the pick-and-roll over the years with Ben McCollum,” — James Fletcher III, On3 Analyst
- “Bennett Stirtz, he’s a good player, he’s real,” — Dan Dickau, CBS Sports Analyst
What’s Next
Stirtz will join the Thunder’s Summer League roster in Salt Lake City before reporting to training camp. The team expects him to contribute off the ball alongside Gilgeous-Alexander and to provide additional playmaking depth in a backcourt already featuring Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace.
