Thunder fans shouldn’t lose sleep over Bennett Stirtz’s quiet opener

Thunderous Intentions writer Maxwell Ogden argues that Oklahoma City Thunder fans should not be concerned about rookie point guard Bennett Stirtz playing just one minute in the regular season opener. Despite generating significant hype with two 20-point games during the preseason, Stirtz faces limited early opportunities because of the team's immense backcourt depth.

Ogden points out that perimeter minutes are heavily occupied by starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Cason Wallace, alongside key contributors Alex Caruso, Jared McCain, and Ajay Mitchell. The writer maintains that a slow developmental path was expected and that Stirtz will eventually earn minutes when injuries or rotation shifts arise.