Four quality landing spots for former Cyclone Joshua Jefferson in the NBA Draft
At some level in the subsequent 48 hours, Iowa State basketball will break a five-year NBA Draft drought for the Cyclones when former consensus All-American Joshua Jefferson is chosen.
It’s not an “if” with Jefferson. It is a “where” and “when” the former Cyclone star is chosen, and that second might come Tuesday evening in the first spherical of the NBA Draft (ESPN). If not Tuesday, it is going to be Wednesday in the second spherical of the occasion.
An All-Big 12 first group choice as a senior, Jefferson grew to become the first participant in Big 12 historical past to document a number of triple-doubles in league play. His 16.9 factors, 7.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals per recreation make him the solely high main participant in the nation to common these numbers, and solely 5 gamers have finished so in a complete season since 1974-75.
“He can guard multiple positions. When you get a lot of assists and a lot of rebounds, that also gives you great benefit on teams where you’re playing with a superstar, potentially a couple of superstars,” Iowa State head coach TJ Otzelberger he stated. “So, I think Joshua is extremely intelligent, and when he interviews with teams, he impresses them very much as well because of his basketball IQ and his basketball knowledge.”
Jefferson can be Otzelberger’s first participant chosen in the NBA Draft. By the finish of Wednesday, Otzelberger might have two NBA Draft choices added to his resume if Tamin Lipsey is chosen in the late second spherical.
Between 2012 and 2020, Iowa State had eight gamers chosen by an NBA group. Former Cyclone stars Royce White, Justin Hamilton, Georges Niang, Abdel Nader, Mount Morris, Marial Shayok, Talen Horton-Tucker and Tyrese Haliburton all celebrated with their household, mates and Cyclone coaches after they heard their names known as on draft evening. That listing of gamers had Iowa State amongst the high 20 packages in faculty basketball for gamers chosen in the NBA Draft.
As the NBA Draft prepares to start on Tuesday night, listed here are 4 NBA organizations that could possibly be a great match for Jefferson as he begins his NBA profession.
