A Draft Night Story
On a crisp June evening, Bennett Stirtz heard his name called 16th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Memphis Grizzlies held the pick before immediately sending the rights to Oklahoma City, where the young guard will now try to translate his collegiate success into professional production.
From Division II to Big Ten Dominance
Stirtz began his collegiate journey at the Division II level before moving up to Drake and eventually Iowa, where he blossomed under head coach Ben McCollum. Over his final season he averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 47.7 % from the field, 35.8 % from three‑point range and an astonishing 84.8 % from the free‑throw line. His 734 points in a single season rank fourth in Iowa history, and he reached the 32‑point plateau three times, including a career‑high 36 against Northwestern.
A New Chapter in Oklahoma City
The trade to the Thunder offers Stirtz a fresh platform to showcase the efficiency and scoring instincts that made him an All‑Big Ten selection and a key piece of Iowa’s March Madness run to the Elite Eight. Joining a young core that includes the Murray twins, he hopes to help lay the groundwork for the next era of Oklahoma City basketball while continuing the legacy of Iowa’s recent draft successes.