Oklahoma City is quickly becoming a hub for former Iowa basketball players.
Last summer, Payton Sandfort signed with the Thunder on a two-way deal. He was on the roster and even got some NBA minutes late in the regular season. On Tuesday night, Bennett Stirtz was drafted by the Grizzlies and then promptly traded to Oklahoma City. Stirtz is set to join the team on a regular rookie contract.
And on Wednesday, a third former Hawkeye found out he’s also heading to OKC. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Thunder have agreed to a two-way deal with guard Josh Dix.
Dix spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Iowa, appearing in 97 total games. He had a stellar junior campaign, averaging 14.4 points per game and shooting 42.2% from behind the arc. Following that season, and the departure of Fran McCaffery from the program, he transferred to Creighton for his senior year.
In his lone season as a Bluejay, Dix put up 13.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. While his efficiency dipped, shooting just 33.8% from three, he was still a trusted leader in the locker room. His heartwarming story quickly made him a fan-favorite in Omaha, and now his basketball career will continue at the next level.
Iowa is building a very nice pipeline of players in the NBA, as evidenced by the three guards in Oklahoma City. The Hawkeyes have had several former players land on NBA rosters this decade, headlined by Luka Garza and the Murray twins. With Ben McCollum set to be in Iowa City for the long haul, that’s a trend that should only continue over the next few years.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Former Iowa basketball guard signed by Oklahoma City Thunder
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
