How to watch former Iowa State basketball stars in NBA Summer League

Jul 09, 2026 - 20:50

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Got an itch for Iowa State basketball?

The current batch of Cyclones is hard at work amid their usual eight-week summer program, but you can catch former Iowa State standouts as they try to make a name for themselves in the NBA Summer League. A good impression during Summer League could help them land on NBA rosters.

There are four former Cyclones on NBA Summer League rosters: Keshon Gilbert (Atlanta Hawks), Joshua Jefferson (Brooklyn Nets), Curtis Jones (Boston Celtics) and Tamin Lipsey (Indiana Pacers).

The NBA Summer League runs from July 9-19. Every team is guaranteed four games. Depending on the results, there could be additional contests. The teams that qualify for the four-team playoff bracket will play for the NBA Summer League championship, while all other 26 teams that do not qualify will get to play a fifth game in consolation.

Here's how to watch each of the former Cyclones:

Keshon Gilbert

Team: Atlanta Hawks

Last year: The two-time All-Big 12 selection, who is on a two-way contract with the Hawks, appeared in a total of four NBA games last season. He made three appearances with the Washington Wizards, where he began his career with a two-way deal, before moving to the Hawks, where he finished out the season and appeared in one NBA game, recording 11 points and nine assists. Across those four NBA games, he averaged 4.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.3 rebounds over 18.5 minutes per game.

With his two-way contract, he mostly played in the G League, where he was named to the G-League All-Rookie Team. Between the Capital City Go-Go's and College Park Skyhawks, he averaged 17.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.

Summer league game schedule:

July 9: vs. San Antonio, 3:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2
July 11: vs. Brooklyn, 7 p.m. CT, ESPN
July 13: vs. Boston, 5 p.m. CT, Amazon Prime (streaming)
July 16: vs. Grizzlies, 7 p.m. CT, Amazon Prime (streaming)

Joshua Jefferson

Team: Brooklyn Nets

Last year: Jefferson wrapped up his college career by becoming the Cyclones' first consensus All-American since Georges Niang in 2016 and only the fifth in program history. He averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 47.1% overall and 34.5% from deep. Jefferson became the first player in school and Big 12 history to record multiple triple-doubles during conference play in a single season. He also earned All-Big 12 honors for the second time.

He also became the first Cyclone to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft since Tyrese Haliburton in 2020. Jefferson was drafted 28th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves and was immediately traded to the Brooklyn Nets.

Summer league game schedule:

July 10: vs. New York, 5 p.m. CT, Amazon Prime (streaming)
July 11: vs. Atlanta, 7 p.m. CT, ESPN
July 14: vs. Sacramento, 5 p.m. CT, Amazon Prime (streaming)
July 16: vs. Houston, 3:30 p.m. CT, ESPNU

Curtis Jones

Team: Boston Celtics

Last year: Jones received an Exhibit 10 deal with the Denver Nuggets last summer and impressed them enough to have his contract upgraded to a two-way deal. He appeared in 10 NBA games for the Nuggets, averaging 2.9 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists over 8.8 minutes per game. Jones was a full-time starter for their G-League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold, where he averaged 20.2 points, 5.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game across 30 starts.

Following the 2025-26 season, Denver moved on from Jones, but he landed a deal with the Boston Celtics shortly after.

Summer league game schedule:

July 10: vs. Toronto, 8 p.m. CT, ESPN
July 12: vs. Charlotte, 4 p.m. CT, ESPN2
July 13: vs. Atlanta, 5 p.m. CT, Amazon Prime (streaming)
July 15: vs. Sacramento, 7 p.m. CT, ESPN2

Tamin Lipsey

Team: Indiana Pacers

Last year: The hometown legend wrapped up a stellar career as a Cyclone, earning All-Big 12 honors and Big 12 All-Defensive team accolades for the third year in a row. He was also named Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year and CSC Division I Academic All-American of the Year. He set program records for career steals (314) and games started (137). Lipsey averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game last season.

Lipsey went undrafted, but he signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Indiana Pacers shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 NBA Draft.

Summer league game schedule: