NBA draft: See photos of Bennett Stirtz, Joshua Jefferson on basketball’s biggest stage
From Division 2 to the draft, Bennett Sturtz is headed to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Memphis Grizzlies using the 16th pick in the draft for him and then immediately trading him to the Thunder. Sturtz is *** great story. Obviously, starting at Northwest Missouri State in Division 2, winning games, hitting big shots there, and then doing the same thing and following Ben McCollum to Drake, and then Iowa, and now the NBA. What *** moment for him.
NBA draft: See photos of Bennett Stirtz, Joshua Jefferson on basketball’s biggest stage
Updated: 11:57 AM CDT Jun 24, 2026
Bennett Stirtz and Joshua Jefferson were in the spotlight Tuesday night as first-round picks in the NBA draft. The Memphis Grizzlies selected Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the NBA draft Tuesday night. He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder shortly after.Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson was selected with the 28th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was immediately traded to the Brooklyn Nets.Photos from draft night
Bennett Stirtz and Joshua Jefferson were in the spotlight Tuesday night as first-round picks in the NBA draft.
The Memphis Grizzlies selected Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the NBA draft Tuesday night. He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder shortly after.
Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson was selected with the 28th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was immediately traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
Photos from draft night
YUKI IWAMURA
Joshua Jefferson walks off the stage after being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the 28th pick in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. Jefferson was immediately traded to the Brooklyn Nets
Arturo Holmes
Bennett Stirtz is congratulated by his father Roger Stirtz after he is drafted sixteenth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.
Arturo Holmes
NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Bennett Stirtz after he is drafted sixteenth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. Stirtz was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Arturo Holmes
NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Joshua Jefferson after he is drafted Twenty-eighth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.
Arturo Holmes
Bennett Stirtz is introduced prior to Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.
Arturo Holmes
Joshua Jefferson after he is drafted Twenty-eighth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.