In three preseason games, Hugo González is averaging 21.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per 36 minutes.
Throughout the 2026-27 season, NBA.com’s writers will share their opinions on the biggest storylines and trends around the league. Today’s question:
Who has been the most surprising player this preseason?
Brian Martin
Bennett Stirtz
Ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft, where he was selected 16th overall by Memphis and traded to OKC, the 6-foot-3 guard told Andy Katz: “I feel like I’m the best shooter in this draft and I want to prove that my whole basketball career.”
Through his first four preseason games, it is hard to argue with Stritz’s self-assessment. He is averaging 3.5 threes per game on 53.8% shooting from beyond the arc. Stirtz leads the entire league in total 3-pointers made (14-for-26), while his 17.0 points per game rank second among rookies and 16th overall.
With the departures of Isaiah Joe and Lu Dort — who led OKC in 3-pointers made last season with 2.5 and 1.9 per game, respectively — there is a clear void for Stirtz to help fill. Add in Jared McCain, who ranks second to Stirtz in total preseason threes (13 on 50% shooting), and OKC appears to have a pair of knockdown shooters ready for opening night.
Shaun Powell
Aday Mara
This is a pretty tricky designation because context is important (minutes, lineups, opponents, etc.), but Aday Mara of Oklahoma City flashed some encouragement in the preseason.
The 7-foot-3 first-round pick averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds with the Thunder electing to sit starters for much of the exhibition games. Obviously, OKC wanted to give Mara plenty of reps just in case he’s needed in regular season situations — especially as big man insurance against 7-foot-5 Victor Wembanyama, a big threat to OKC in the West and that’s big reason why they drafted him.
John Schuhmann
Jarace Walker
The most surprising line that I’ve seen in a preseason box score is Walker’s 10 assists (with just one turnover) in 28 minutes against Minnesota on Oct. 7. The No. 8 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft hasn’t been much of an impact player in his first three seasons with the Pacers, and he totaled just 117 minutes, 11th most on the team in their run to Game 7 of the Finals in the 2025 playoffs. But the potential for him to be the kind of versatile, two-way forward that every team wants has always been there, and he got a chance to play as the team floundered without Tyrese Haliburton last season.
Still, he averaged just 3.5 assists per 36 minutes last year, so to see him dropping some dimes (including a touch pass to Jay Huff after throwing the ball to himself off the backboard) in his two preseason games thus far was eye-opening. A Walker leap in Year 4 would be a huge development for the Pacers, who could be back in contention in the Eastern Conference.
Jeff Zillgitt
Hugo González
The Celtics will shoot a lot of 3-pointers, and it looks like Spanish guard Hugo González, 20, will get his chance to launch his fair share. After playing 14.6 minutes and scoring 3.9 points per game in his rookie season in 2025-26, González should get more minutes and score more points this season.
In three preseason games, the 6-foot-6 González is averaging 21.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per 36 minutes and is shooting 65% from the field and 61.5% on 3-pointers. He had 15 points, five assists and four rebounds against Cleveland and 17 points (6-for-7 shooting) and six rebounds against Philadelphia in preseason games. He helps space the floor, maneuvers well in transition and sees the court well.
If González, the 28th pick in the 2026 draft, can carry that progress into the regular season, that’s the kind of production that helps take the Celtics to the next level.
