By Hawk Fanatic

IOWA CIY, Iowa – Former Iowa forward Payton Sandfort has signed as an undrafted free agent with the current NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The news broke shortly after the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft concluded on Thursday without the 6-foot-7 Sandfort having been picked.

A native of Waukee, Payton Sandfort led Iowa with 84 3-point baskets this past season, and he also tied for the team lead with a 16.7 per-game scoring average despite being hobbled by multiple injuries. He also shot 89.1 percent from the free throw line and averaged six rebounds per game as a senior this past season.

Sandfort averaged 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as a junior.

He made third-team All-Big Ten as a junior at Iowa, and was named the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year as a sophomore.

In his final collegiate game against Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament, Sandfort tied a tournament record by making eight 3-point baskets and he also 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).

Payton Sandfort played in 134 games as a Hawkeye under former Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery and he started 74 games over the course of four seasons.

He now joins an Oklahoma City team that defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2025 NBA finals in seven games.

Editor’s note: Hawkeyesports.com contributed to this report.