Payton Sandfort made the most of his second Summer League outing with the Thunder on Monday night in Salt Lake City, turning in the kind of scoring night that jumps off the box score even in a loss.
Oklahoma City came up short against the Atlanta Hawks, 82-77, but Sandfort was the brightest player on the floor for the Thunder. The former Iowa standout led all scorers with 25 points, knocking down 6 of 10 shots overall, 4 of 6 from 3-point range and all four of his free throws. He added four rebounds and two assists in 21:03.
Sandfort wasn’t the only former Hawkeye in the mix. Josh Dix saw 17:23 of action for the Thunder and finished without a point, but he did chip in two assists and a rebound.
Bennett Stirtz also logged a solid night for Oklahoma City, posting nine points, three assists and two rebounds in 29:08. His showing against Atlanta included a slick give-and-go alley-oop to former Michigan center Aday Mara.
Elsewhere, former Iowa guard Brendan Hausen got minutes for the Memphis Grizzlies in their second Summer League game. Hausen played nine minutes in a 109-100 loss to the Utah Jazz, scoring six points while going 1 of 5 from deep.
The Thunder wrap up their Salt Lake City Summer League schedule tonight against the Utah Jazz at the Jon M. Huntsman Center at 8 p.m.
CT. The game will air on ESPNU and stream on Amazon Prime Video.
In Other News...
Savannah Bananas Were Moved By What The Hawkeye Wave Means
The Savannah Bananas brought their brand of Banana Ball to Kinnick Stadium over the weekend, but the most memorable part of the event had nothing to do with hits, outs or the usual circus around the game. Before the action settled in, children connected to Iowa Health Stead Family Children's Hospital were honored in a tribute centered on the Hawkeye Wave, the stadium tradition that has become one of college sports most moving scenes.
For players and fans alike, the moment carried a weight that went well beyond the novelty of the matchup with the Firefighters. Bananas pitcher Trystan Levesque was among those visibly affected, and team founder Jesse Cole said the crowd and players felt the emotion in the building. It was the kind of scene that reminded everyone why the Wave resonates so deeply, even in a weekend built around entertainment. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Suddenly Has A Real Debate Over Replacing Bennett Stirtz
With Bennett Stirtz gone, Iowa suddenly has a very real question at the top of its scoring chart for 2026-27. Ben McCollums roster is still taking shape after the departures of Stirtz and other key pieces, and the conversation now turns to which Hawkeye can step forward as the go-to option. The most obvious names are already emerging, with Kael Combs, Cooper Koch and a few others all having a case based on what they showed last season and what McCollum has seen in practice.
Combs looks like the kind of player who could make the biggest leap if his expanded role translates into consistent production, while Koch enters as the top returning scorer and the guy who seemed to find another gear late in the year and into March. Iowa also has to sort through a transfer class that could alter the pecking order, which is why this feels less like a settled depth-chart exercise and more like an open competition. The Hawkeyes know they need a new offensive face, but the answer may not be obvious until the season starts to unfold. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hawkeyes Just Delivered A Summer League Reality Check
The Salt Lake City NBA Summer League wrapped with a mixed showing for a handful of former Iowa basketball standouts, and the final numbers offered a little of everything for Hawkeye fans tracking their pro progress. Brendan Hausen gave Memphis a scoring lift with 21 points in a loss, while Josh Dix added 16 for Oklahoma City in a defeat, giving both guards something to build on as the summer schedule rolls on.
Payton Sandfort, meanwhile, had a far rougher night and Bennett Stirtz did not get on the floor, a reminder that Summer League can change quickly from one game to the next. All four former Hawkeyes are expected to be back in action in Las Vegas, where the next chance to make an impression will come fast and the competition for minutes figures to be even tighter. [Read more 🡒]