Iowa State basketball’s hometown hero is headed to Indianapolis.
Tamin Lipsey signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Pacers as an undrafted free agent after the conclusion of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 24.
The former Cyclones star will get his NBA shot after growing up in Ames and setting a program record with 137 career starts over his four years at Iowa State. The Indiana Pacers are headlined by Iowa State product and two-time NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton.
Lipsey worked out for at least 10 NBA teams during the pre-draft process, including the Pacers, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics. He also participated in the NBA G League Combine and the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound point guard helped fill a void upon his arrival as a freshman after Tyrese Hunter opted to transfer from Iowa State after a Big 12 Freshman of the Year campaign. Lipsey inherited the starting point guard spot from and quickly endeared himself to fans as an Ames native suiting up for the Cyclones. He further cemented himself as a fan favorite over the years with his defensive prowess, toughness, leadership and hustle.
Lipsey built on the success he had as a Big 12 All-Freshman team selection. He was a three-time All-Big 12 honoree, a three-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection and an AP All-American honorable mention in 2024. Lipsey was also named the Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year and CSC Division I Academic All-American of the Year as a senior.
The Cyclones’ floor general played through numerous injuries throughout his collegiate career, but those ailments never seemed to slow down his drive or effort on the court. He frequently laid his body on the line and didn’t shy away from making hustle plays. His toughness and persistent energy made him a well-respected teammate, especially as he remained a productive contributor.
A talented playmaker and savvy player on the court, Lipsey shined as a disruptive weapon on defense. His never-stop attitude and uncanny anticipation for his opponents’ next moves helped him set a school record 314 career steals. He became the Cyclones’ all-time steals leader and broke Monte Morris’ record midway through his junior season.
Lipsey averaged a career-high 13.5 points and 5.1 assists per game as a senior. He also had a career-low 1.5 turnovers per game. Lipsey shot 45.9% overall and 31.6% from deep.
During the 2025-26 season, he recorded a 3.33 assist-to-turnover ratio, which tied for 13th nationally and ranked second among Big 12 players.
Overall, throughout his four years at Iowa State, Lipsey compiled 1,507 points (11.0 per game), 518 rebounds (3.8 per game), 602 assists (4.4 per game), 314 steals (2.3 per game) and 263 turnovers (1.9 per game).
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State basketball product Tamin Lipsey signs with Indiana Pacers
Reporting by Eugene Rapay, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Eugene Rapay, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
