Thunder GM Sam Presti’s best first-round picks since 2022 continue to shine ahead of 2026-27 season

Ahead of the 2026-27 season, Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti selected two of his most promising first-round picks, Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, since drafting All-Star Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams in 2022. Mara’s making his case for a rotation spot on one of the NBA’s deepest teams, with head coach Mark Daigneault guiding the way. The 12th overall pick started the preseason perfectly , scoring 34 points on 15-for-15 shooting, plus 15 rebounds and four blocks in his first two preseason games.