Round 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft results for the Oklahoma City Thunder
RD1 – Pick 12: Aday Mara – University of Michigan
Welcome to OKC, Aday 🤝 pic.twitter.com/j4sE6wfbvO
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 24, 2026
RD1 – Pick 16: Bennett Stirtz – University of Iowa
Welcome to the Thunder, @bennett_stirtz ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/uN0kICaCqR
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 24, 2026
THUNDER SELECTS ADAY MARA AND ACQUIRES DRAFT RIGHTS TO BENNETT STIRTZ IN THE 2026 NBA DRAFT
OKLAHOMA CITY, June 23, 2026 – The Oklahoma City Thunder selected center Aday Mara with the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and acquired the draft rights to guard Bennett Stirtz with the 16th overall pick from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for the draft rights to guard Ebuka Okorie and two future second-round draft picks, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.
Mara appeared in 40 games (39 starts) during this past season at Michigan and averaged 12.1 points on 66.8% shooting (ranked 4th in the country), 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks as he helped lead the Wolverines to the 2026 NCAA championship. A native of Zaragoza, Spain, Mara set a Michigan single-season record with 103 blocks last season and he was named the 2025-26 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Stirtz saw action in 37 games (all starts) during the 2025-26 season and averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists and 1.4 steals as he led Iowa to its first-ever NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Stirtz finished eighth nationally in total points scored (734) and he received All-American Honorable Mention honors by the Associated Press.
