The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas turned into a stage for former Iowa Hawkeyes to display their professional readiness, with four alumni seeing action across two separate matchups.
Brendan Hausen, now with the Memphis Grizzlies, delivered a standout performance, pouring in 20 points on efficient shooting and contributing to a decisive 106‑85 win over the Golden State Warriors.
The Oklahoma City Thunder trio — Bennett Stirtz, Payton Sandfort and Josh Dix — each added notable contributions, though they fell just short of a victory against the Denver Nuggets, losing 106‑103.
Stirtz led the Thunder in scoring with 22 points and a well‑rounded stat line, while Sandfort showed a 19‑point effort highlighted by a 50 % shooting clip inside the arc, and Dix chipped in 14 points with six rebounds and a block in limited minutes.
A Glimpse of Future Potential
These outings underscore the growing presence of Iowa alumni in the league’s developmental circuit, suggesting that the program continues to produce talent capable of making immediate impacts.
With the summer league concluding, the next steps for these players will likely involve training camps and potentially roster spots on the parent clubs, a prospect that excites both coaching staffs and fans alike.
The performances also sparked conversations about the broader trajectory of the Hawkeyes’ program, as analysts point to the increased visibility of its alumni in professional settings.