Photos: Best images from 2026 NBA draft for Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz
Photos: Best images from 2026 NBA draft for Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz
Clemente Almanza, OKC Thunder WireWed, June 24, 2026 at 3:47 AM UTC
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In one of the busiest nights of the basketball calendar, the Oklahoma City Thunder added a couple of intriguing pieces from the 2026 NBA draft Round 1. They selected Michigan's Aday Mara with the No. 12 pick and Iowa's Bennett Stirtz with the No. 16 pick.
The Thunder acquired the latter in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. In return, they sent the No. 17 pick and two future second-round picks to move up one spot.
Mara was viewed as a lottery pick for most of the year. He averaged 12.1 points on 66.8% shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.6 blocks this past season at Michigan. The 21-year-old is a 7-foot-3, 260-pound center.
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Meanwhile, Stirtz took advantage of his sole year at Iowa. He averaged 19.8 points on 47.7% shooting, 4.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds this past season. He shot 35.8% from 3 on 6.9 attempts. The 22-year-old is a 6-foot-3, 186-pound guard.
Let's look at some of the best photos from Mara and Bennett at the 2026 NBA draft. The Thunder added two top-16 picks to bolster their depth chart for the short-term and long-term future:
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Aday Mara speaks to the media after he is drafted twelfth overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: (L-R) Morez Johnson Jr., Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg pose for a photo prior to Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Aday Mara poses on the red carpet prior to Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Yaxel Lendeborg is congratulated by Aday Mara after is drafted eleventh overall by the Golden State Warriors during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Aday Mara after he is drafted twelfth overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Aday Mara speaks to the media after he is drafted twelfth overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Bennett Stirtz poses on the red carpet prior to Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Bennett Stirtz is congratulated by his father Roger Stirtz after he is drafted sixteenth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Bennett Stirtz after he is drafted sixteenth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Bennett Stirtz after he is drafted sixteenth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Photos: Best images from 2026 NBA draft for Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz
Source: “AOL Sports”
