NBA Summer League play in Las Vegas brought another look at three former Iowa basketball standouts on Sunday, and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 104-79 loss to the Warriors gave each of them a different kind of night.
With the Thunder now 0-2 in Summer League action, the spotlight is getting tighter for players trying to carve out a place on the roster. For the former Hawkeyes, the game offered one clear bright spot, one uneven showing, and one performance that fit a familiar mold.
Bennett Stirtz turned in the most complete outing of the group. He scored 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting and added two assists while playing a team-high 26 minutes.
He also went without a turnover, which stood out as much as anything he did offensively. Stirtz finished as the Thunder’s leading scorer, and while the performance wasn’t flashy, it was the kind that reinforces why he looks positioned to contribute off the bench as a rookie.
Josh Dix had a tougher time finding his footing. Starting alongside Stirtz, he finished with five points, two rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes, going 2-for-7 from the field and 1-for-3 from deep.
He never really settled in, and the lack of production beyond the scoring line made the night feel quieter than he would have wanted. Dix is on a one-year, two-way contract after going undrafted, so his path appears headed toward the G-League, where strong play could change his outlook next offseason.
Payton Sandfort came off the bench and gave the Thunder 11 points in 18 minutes, shooting 5-for-9 overall and 1-for-4 from three. His scoring was once again his calling card, and his 11 points were the second-most on the team behind Stirtz. Even with the outside shot not falling, he found ways to score inside the arc and keep himself in the mix.
Of the three, Sandfort still has the most to prove. He does not have an NBA deal beyond Summer League right now, and the inconsistency that has shown up recently remains part of the conversation. If he wants to land a two-way contract, nights like Sunday need to become more common.
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One Former Hawkeye Is Starting To Separate In Summer League
Four former Iowa basketball players got their chances in Las Vegas Summer League, and all four turned in performances that gave Hawkeye fans something to track. Brendan Hausen was the biggest scoring name of the group, putting up 20 points for the Memphis Grizzlies in a win over the Golden State Warriors, while Bennett Stirtz, Payton Sandfort and Josh Dix suited up for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a tight loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Stirtz had the most eye-catching all-around line for Oklahoma City, finishing with 22 points, six assists, two rebounds, one steal and one block in 30 minutes. Sandfort added 19 points off the bench, and Dix kept his starting spot with 14 points, six rebounds, one assist and one block, leaving the Thunders Iowa trio with plenty of individual production even as the bigger question around their summer run still hangs in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
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Sages timing matters because Iowa is moving forward without Bennett Stirtz, which changes the way the offense will have to function. Rather than leaning on one clear centerpiece, the Hawkeyes appear headed toward a more shared approach, and Sage said he expects to be involved more often with the ball, around the rim, and as a scorer when needed. [Read more 🡒]