• Undrafted Iowa Hawkeyes basketball player Payton Sandfort has signed with the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
• Sandfort visited the Thunder during the NBA Finals and was impressed by the organization and arena atmosphere.
• Recovering from multiple injuries, Sandfort will focus on rehabilitation and is expected to return to play by November.
• The Thunder value Sandfort’s shooting ability, team-oriented mindset, and overall potential for development.

IOWA CITY — During the pre-Draft process, Payton Sandfort got an intimate view of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the franchise that he would later land with. Sandfort took a trip to Oklahoma, where he met with staff, toured the Thunder’s facilities and attended Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams exploded for 40 points in the win, giving the Thunder a 3-2 advantage in the series.

“It was just an unreal environment,” Sandfort said. “Like the loudest arena I’ve ever been in.” 

After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, Sandfort has agreed to sign with the Thunder. The former Iowa basketball standout will start his professional career with the franchise that just won an NBA title.

“There were a lot of teams that showed interest, but they showed by far the most interest the whole time,” Sandfort said of the Thunder.

It was more than just the Game 5 environment that resonated with Sandfort during his pre-Draft visit with the organization.

“I think just the people,” Sandfort said of what stood out. “They’re just so organized and all the people are super involved and super invested. They really talk about making you a better player but also just a much better person and they have all sorts of different development programs for players and for people. So it really stood out as just a first-class organization.”

• Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley announced he will seek reelection to his House seat, forgoing a run for governor in 2026.
• Grassley has served as House speaker since 2020 and represents District 57 in northeastern Iowa.
• Grassley cited his commitment to his constituents, family and farming as reasons for seeking reelection to the House.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley has announced he will seek reelection to his House seat in 2026, taking himself out of the wide-open governor’s race.

Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, had been considering running for governor since Gov. Kim Reynolds in April said she would not seek a third full term in office.

Instead, Grassley announced in a newsletter Friday, June 27, that he will run again for House District 57 in northeastern Iowa, which includes Butler County and part of Bremer County.

“When I reflect on my time serving our area since 2007, I have so much gratitude for the trust you’ve placed in me as your representative in the Iowa House,” Grassley said. “It’s an honor to work on your behalf, and today, I’m excited to announce that I will be seeking reelection to House District 57 in the 2026 election.”

More: How Pat Grassley keeps the Iowa House’s sprawling GOP majority united. It’s not always easy

Grassley was first elected to the Iowa House in 2006 and has served as House speaker since 2020. He is the grandson of longtime U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley.

Under his tenure, House Republicans have expanded their majority from 53 seats to 67 — their first supermajority in more than 50 years.

“My commitment remains rooted in the three roles that define me: serving as your voice in the Iowa House, being a dedicated father to my children and working the land as a farmer,” Grassley said.

Grassley has led House Republicans to pass GOP priorities such as tax cuts, private school education savings accounts and abortion restrictions.

Ahead of the 2025 legislative session, he created a new House Higher Education Committee, which advanced several bills aimed at further dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion efforts from the state’s public universities and community colleges.

“Over the years, we’ve achieved significant wins for Iowa — lowering taxes, strengthening our schools, passing common-sense protections for children and supporting our rural communities,” Grassley said. “But there’s still more to do. I believe I can best serve our district by continuing to represent you in the Statehouse, fighting for the values and priorities that make our communities strong.”

The GOP primary field continues to take shape.

State Rep. Eddie Andrews and former state lawmaker Brad Sherman have launched campaigns. Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra has formed an exploratory committee and aired TV ads as he moves aggressively toward a formal run. Sen. Mike Bousselot also has created an exploratory committee.

Attorney General Brenna Bird also is considering the possibility.

Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @marissajpayne.