Joshua Jefferson NBA draft projection: Where ISU star expected to land

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Since Joshua Jefferson arrived at Iowa State, he has elevated himself, his teammates and his draft profile by major leaps over his two seasons as a Cyclone.

From a three-star recruit who started his collegiate career at Saint Mary's to an under-the-radar transfer headed to Iowa State, there's no more overlooking Jefferson. He concluded his time with the Cyclones as a consensus All-American and two-time All-Big 12 selection with a knack for doing nearly everything on the court.

He hails from a family of gifted athletes. His father, Ben, and two brothers, Cameron and Noah, all played Division I college football. Cameron Jefferson was even on the Denver Broncos' Super Bowl 50-winning roster in 2016.

Now, the only question left for Jefferson is where will he land in the 2026 NBA Draft? A mainstay on mock drafts after a stellar final college season, will he go in the first or second round? Which team will he begin his NBA journey with?


The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The event will kick off with the first round on June 23 and will wrap up with the second round on June 24. Jefferson is looking to be the first Iowa State product to be picked in the NBA Draft since Tyrese Haliburton went 12th overall in 2020.

Here's a look at what Jefferson may bring to his future home in the NBA:

Joshua Jefferson NBA Draft profile​

• Age: 23
• Height: 6-foot-7¾ (without shoes, measured at NBA Combine), 6-foot-9 (listed height)
• Weight: 246 pounds
• Wingspan: 6-foot-10¾
• Standing reach: 8-foot-8½
• Hand length: 9 inches
• Hand width: 10 inches
• Last season's stats: 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game, while shooting 47.1% overall, 34.5% from deep and 70.0% at free-throw line, across 35 appearances
• Career stats: 1,367 points (10.5 per game), 737 rebounds (5.7 per game), 352 assists (2.7 per game), 179 steals and 70 blocks, while shooting 48.3% overall and 31.5% from deep over four years. Played two seasons at Saint Mary's and two seasons at Iowa State

NBA Combine testing​

All measurements were taken at the 2026 NBA Combine in May.

Athletic testing:

• Standing vertical jump: 27 inches
• Maximum vertical leap: 33 inches
• Pro lane agility drill: 11.91 seconds
• Shuttle run: 3.08 seconds
• Three-quarter court sprint: 3.42 seconds

Shooting drills:

• Spot-up shooting: 11-of-25, 40%
• Shooting off the dribble: 16-of-30, 53.3%
• 3-point star drill: 15-of-25, 60.0%
• Free-throw attempts: 5-of-10, 50%
• Side-mid-side: 15-of-27, 55.6%

Strengths​

• Playmaking: Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger sometimes referred to Jefferson as "the best big point guard in the country," and it was a fitting descriptor for the 6-foot-9, 246-pound forward. Jefferson is capable of putting the ball on the floor, initiating offense, leading a fast break after grabbing a defensive rebound and making smooth assists to teammates in all corners of the court. He is an exceptional passer out of the post, but he's also capable of reading and processing defenses from the top of the arc or whenever he touches the ball. He's an unselfish player and while he has had many highlight assists or no-look passes, he doesn't try to force the action into tight windows. Jefferson averaged 4.8 assists to 2.5 turnovers in his final season at Iowa State and has the tools to be a great secondary playmaker in the NBA.
• Offensive and defensive versatility: A do-it-all forward at Iowa State on both ends of the floor, Jefferson's skillset with his type of frame is amazing to watch. He was a highly productive player in college, a consistent scorer and rebounder, with the ability to stuff the rest of the stat sheet. Jefferson became the first player in Iowa State and Big 12 history to record multiple triple-doubles in a single season during conference play. He is a solid finisher around the basket and has demonstrated an improving jumpshot. Combine that with his playmaking, and he'll give teams flexibility with lineups as a true forward or a small-ball center. Defensively, he's able to switch and guard various positions. Although he's not an imposing rim protector, he can get the job done and make up for it with his defensive activity and toughness inside.
• Intangibles/basketball IQ: He's built like a linebacker and possesses great physical and mental strength and toughness. Jefferson plays with physicality and a high motor on both ends of the floor, whether it's fighting for rebounds, bodying up an opponent or in the post. He doesn't get too high or too low emotionally on the floor, often staying level-headed. Although he's not the most expressive player, he is certainly one of the smarter ones on the court. He has a great feel for the game, sees the floor well, is a good decision-maker and is crafty in the way he sets up his teammates or creates space for himself to outwork a defender. Defensively, he puts himself in good position, has a knack for anticipating the opponent's plays and is a hard worker, even when off-ball. He's gotten better and developed rapidly at Iowa State with each year and once he has access to NBA coaching, it should be fun to see how much more he can unlock in his game.

Weaknesses​

• Jumpshot, shooting consistency still a work-in-progress: Jefferson quickly flashed an improved jumpshot this season, forcing opponents to realize that they can no longer sag off of him at the perimeter. Although he shot an increased volume from 3-point range, he still only made 34.5% from deep on 38-of-110 attempts. The improvement is a promising sign, but he'll need to establish greater consistency with his jumper, especially with tougher competition and an even deeper 3-point line.
• Limited athleticism: Jefferson clearly has the brains and skills to play in the NBA, but how will his game translate? At the collegiate level, he clearly had no problem imposing himself, but in the NBA, where there's much greater athleticism and skill across the board, will it hinder his ceiling? At this year's NBA Combine, Jefferson's 27-inch standing vertical leap finished tied for 70th out of 78 participants. His 33-inch max vertical leap was tied for 64th, while his three-quarter court sprint ranked 71st and his pro lane agility drill finishing time was 78th.

Latest Joshua Jefferson NBA mock drafts​

• ESPN:33th overall to Brooklyn Nets
• The Athletic: 27th overall to Boston Celtics
• Bleacher Report: 32nd overall to Memphis Grizzlies
• Yahoo Sports: 35th overall to San Antonio Spurs
• Tankathon: 30th overall to Dallas Mavericks
• NBA Draft Room:41st overall to Miami Heat
• CBS Sports/Gary Parrish: 27th to Boston Celtics
• CBS Sports/Adam Finkelstein: 33rd overall to Brooklyn Nets
• CBS Sports/Cameron Salerno: 28th overall to Minnesota Timberwolves
• SB Nation: 25th overall to Los Angeles Lakers

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Joshua Jefferson NBA projection: Where Iowa State star expected to go

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