Ahead of the 2026-27 season, Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti selected two of his most promising first-round picks, Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, since drafting All-Star Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams in 2022. Mara's making his case for a rotation spot on one of the NBA's deepest teams, with head coach Mark Daigneault guiding the way. The 12th overall pick started the preseason perfectly, scoring 34 points on 15-for-15 shooting, plus 15 rebounds and four blocks in his first two preseason games.

Then, Stirtz, whom the Thunder selected 16th overall in this year's draft, put on a shooting clinic in Oklahoma City's 113-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. He connected on six threes to score a team-high 26 points for the shorthanded Thunder, as Daigneault chose to showcase OKC's rookies, two-way guys, and players on Exhibit-10 contracts. Second-year guard Nikola Topic and rookie 2025's first-round pick Thomas Sorber remain out, still recovering from their respective injuries.

Thunder rookie Bennett Stirtz also finished with five assists and four rebounds as the Iowa product found his rhythm early and often against the Hawks. For Daigneault, Stirtz continues to adapt to the Thunder approach in his third preseason outing.

“He's got great moxie and clearly is used to being with the ball in his hands in pressure situations, shooting big shots, having to make big plays; it's been a feature of his career to this point,” Daigneault said. “A lot of the things he's learning are new for him, but that's not new for him. So, he's clearly comfortable in those situations.”

Aday Mara contributed 17 points on 4-for-9 shooting and went 9-for-12 from the free-throw line for the Thunder. He also added 10 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks, as Aday's made his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Mara shows post moves that resemble Marc Gasol, with a clever eye for finding teammates with nifty passes from all over the floor.

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While his defense is what most envisioned as the strongest facet of his game in his rookie season, Mara is proving to be more than a one-trick pony. At the same time, Stritz's passing, coupled with his efficient 3-point touch, is ideal for a dynamic Thunder team with championship aspirations.

The last time Thunder GM Sam Presti selected talent of this caliber in the first round was the day he drafted Holmgren and Williams, both of whom blossomed into respective All-NBA and All-Defensive Team stars over the past two seasons. They also helped two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a championship in 2025.