It is great to see former Hawkeye Payton Sandfort back on the court after playing through multiple injuries his senior season.
Despite playing with a broken wrist and torn labrums, Sandfort earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection after averaging 16.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Sandfort slipped out of the 2025 NBA Draft, but after finishing his injury rehab, the Oklahoma City Thunder signed him to a two-way contract.
In 17 games for the OKC Blue, the Thunder's G-League affiliate, Sandfort averaged 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, and with OKC ravaged by injury, he finally made his NBA debut.
Sandfort scored his first NBA points in a win over the Brooklyn Nets
The Thunder were on the road in New York to take on the Brooklyn Nets, and it was a complete blowout by OKC.
They lit up the Nets 121-92 and Sandfort finally got a chance to make his debut.
Former Hawkeye Payton Sandfort scores his first points in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/w0MZprZrE1
— Tyler Tachman (@Tyler_T15) March 19, 2026
In typical Sandfort fashion, he nailed a three-point basket, right in front of his teammates on the Thunder bench.
Sandfort was elated as he ran back on defense, and his teammates could not get enough of it. They were cheering frantically from the sideline, and Kenrich Williams even gave a fist-pump as he ran back.
Sandfort's last two seasons with the Hawkeyes were difficult, as the team struggled, and much of the blame was placed on him. As Hawkeyes fans, we are glad to see him happy and thriving with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and hope his success continues.