Former Iowa wing Payton Sandfort would've been selected in the 2026 NBA Draft had it not been for his injury situation this past season, as well as the offseason surgery he had to undergo a few months ago.
That said, following the 2026 NBA Draft, Sandfort agreed to a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder and will be able to sign the deal once he passes a physical following his offseason surgery.
Sandfort will be joining the 2025 NBA Champions. Sandfort will look to make the roster once he is cleared.
The Waukee, Iowa, native averaged 16.7 points and six rebounds en route to being named an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection as a senior. He scored in double figures in 27 games, which included a team-high 14 20-point contests.
Sandfort made a team-high 84 3-point field goals, including a career-high eight in his final collegiate game against Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament, tying a tournament record. He matched a career-high with 30 points in the contest.
Sandfort, who also was the recipient of the prestigious Chris Street Award for the 2024-25 season, finished his career ranking first in free throw percentage (.896), second in 3-point field goals (271) and 11th in scoring (1,619).
The Thunder were top-10 in the NBA this season in three-point percentage as a team. However, the Thunder were 13th of 16 teams in the NBA Playoffs in three-point percentage.
"Unbelievable shooter," one college coach said of Sandfort via The Athletic. "He's got a rifle. When he gets that thing going, it's automatic. Probably can't guard me or you, and I think he'll have trouble guarding in the NBA, but he can really shoot the ball. Kind of like a Duncan Robinson."
Sandfort could surely provide a need there for Oklahoma City.
The Thunder selected Georgetown forward Thomas Sorber with the 15th overall pick, and then took Northwestern's Brooks Barnhizer with the 44th overall pick.
Saint Joseph guard Erik Reynolds II also agreed to an undrafted deal with the Thunder last night after going undrafted.
If Sandfort can find his role in the NBA, he would be the fourth current Hawkeye to be in the NBA, along with Luka Garza, Kris Murray, and Keegan Murray.
Sandfort was seen as a likely second-round draft pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. However, Sandfort elected to stay in Iowa City for his senior season and lead the Hawkeyes.
It didn't go the way that he wanted to, considering the injuries and lack of team success, but NBA teams were intrigued with how hard he competed and that he continued to fight through the injuries that limited him.
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