The Oklahoma City Thunder are still searching for their first Summer League win after a 104-79 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, but there were a few bright spots tucked inside another rough outing.
The biggest one came from Aday Mara, the Thunder’s No. 12 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He went head-to-head with Golden State’s No. 11 pick in this June’s draft, Yaxel Lendeborg, in a matchup that also featured the two Michigan teammates sharing a moment after the game while Lendeborg was being interviewed by the Amazon Prime broadcast.
Mara had been grinding through Summer League up to this point, but Sunday was easily one of his stronger performances. He finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one block, going 4-for-6 from the field, 0-for-1 from 3 and ending at minus-8.
Among Thunder players who logged more than 12 minutes, that was tied for the best plus-minus on the roster. He flashed real work on the glass and showed he can finish around the rim, even if the road ahead is still a long one for the Thunder’s projected big man.
The Thunder also got a better version of Stirtz when the offense put the ball in his hands more often. He shot 50% from the floor, missed all but one of his four 3-point tries, and finished with a rebound and two assists in 26 minutes.
One of his better moments came on a quick low-block shot after Brooks Barnhizer found him late in the shot clock. Compared with the previous three games, Stirtz looked more settled and more in rhythm.
Sandfort added another useful showing off the bench. Even after being waived from his two-way deal, he has stayed with the OKC Blue in Summer League as a free agent, and he looked like one of the more polished pros on a Thunder roster that has struggled to match up in July. He scored 11 points, hit 1 of 4 from deep and did most of his damage inside.
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Thunder Fans Should Keep An Eye On This Undrafted Big
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Tilly has put together a steady five-game stretch, averaging 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds while showing enough feel to suggest there may be more here than a typical camp body. With the Thunders roster depth making NBA minutes a tough climb, the more realistic path may be a spot with the OKC Blue, where a developmental role could keep him in the organization and give him a chance to keep building. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Caruso Just Dropped A Big Hint About OKCs Depth
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Alex Caruso sees that depth as more than just a nice luxury. He pointed to the teams versatility across guards, wings and bigs, with a particular emphasis on how many options Oklahoma City now has at center, and he framed it as the kind of strength that can help a contender absorb change while still playing its style. After last seasons run ended in the Western Conference Finals, that balance of continuity and new pieces feels especially important heading into 2026-27. [Read more 🡒]
Wembanyama Just Made Chets Thunder Future Feel A Lot More Complicated
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For the Thunder, the issue is not just what Holmgren is today, but what he has to become to justify that level of investment alongside the rest of a rising roster. Oklahoma City has built its identity on flexibility, length and lineup versatility, yet Holmgrens struggles in certain matchups have already forced the team into some awkward defensive choices. If Wembanyama keeps separating himself while carrying a similar price tag, the long-term math around Holmgren could get a lot harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]