The Oklahoma City Thunder are still searching for their first win in Las Vegas or Salt Lake City during the 2026 Summer League, but the results haven’t been the only thing worth watching. Even in a rough stretch, OKC has gotten useful looks at three rookies who could matter once the real games start.
That group includes first-round picks Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, along with 2025 first-rounder Thomas Sorber. All three have a path to minutes, and all three bring something different to the table. The question is which one is most likely to make the biggest rookie-year splash in 2026-27.
Mara has made a strong early case. Through his first four Summer League games, he averaged 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field.
For a Thunder team that already values size and versatility, the 7-foot-3 center gives them another big body in the frontcourt and a player who can rebound, protect the rim and make a pass. There’s work to do before he earns major minutes for a title contender, but the tools are obvious.
His college resume backs that up. Mara spent three seasons in college and finished at Michigan with a national championship. There, he averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 66.8% from the field.
Sorber is a different kind of wild card. Selected No. 15 overall in the 2025 draft, injuries kept him out of the 2025-26 season and also sidelined him for the 2026 Summer League. Even without those reps, he still looks like someone who can help right away because of his length, offensive skillset and defensive prowess.
At Georgetown, Sorber put together a strong lone season, averaging 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2 blocks and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 53.2% from the field.
Then there’s Stirtz, who has shown enough in Summer League to keep his name in the conversation. In his first four games, he averaged 12.5 points, 2.8 assists, 1.5 rebounds and a steal per game while shooting 43.2% from the field and 31.8% from 3-point range. As a senior at Iowa, he averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.
Stirtz gives Oklahoma City another ball-handler and a player who could help from the perimeter as a shooter. Mara brings the size and all-around impact. Sorber brings the promise of a player who, if healthy, has the skill set to matter quickly.
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