Oklahoma City Thunder · 5 notes
"I think all 9 of us just seized the opportunity," Bennett Stirtz said of Oklahoma City's nine-man preseason roster, many with no G League or NBA experience. He played 37 minutes, hunting 3-pointers late with the paint packed; Mark Daigneault said pressure isn't new for him.
Aday Mara's passing was the plan in Oklahoma City's Oct. 12 preseason game. Playmaking hasn't been a foundational priority for him, Mark Daigneault said, but Mara earned the chance. Bennett Stirtz said they clicked after a rough first half, including a couple of alley-oops.
Whatever team needs me to win, I'm gonna do
Bennett Stirtz ran the offense through college but is playing more away from the ball for the Thunder. "Whatever team needs me to win, I'm gonna do," the rookie said at practice. Still learning where to be on defense, he admitted "my head's kind of spinning out there."
obviously went out with the ankle thing
Bennett Stirtz left the Thunder's Oct. 6 preseason game with an ankle issue but played Oct. 7, the second night of the back-to-back. Mark Daigneault said Stirtz "obviously went out with the ankle thing" and "had to get some recovery in" before playing again.
Bennett Stirtz, used to having the ball, is still learning to play off it, Mark Daigneault said after the Thunder's Oct. 6 preseason game. But Daigneault liked how Stirtz balanced aggression with running the offense, calling Oct. 6 "actually his best day" of camp.