AMES — Former Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey is getting his NBA shot.
Lipsey has signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Indiana Pacers following the 2026 NBA Draft, giving one of the most accomplished players in Iowa State history a path into the professional ranks.
Lipsey is the second Cyclone from this year’s class to join the NBA. Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson was selected in the first round of the draft, while Lipsey now heads to Indiana after a decorated four-year career in Ames.
Lipsey is expected to begin his pro journey with the Pacers in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, which runs July 9-19.
The signing gives Indiana a proven college guard known for toughness, defense, leadership and production. Lipsey was a three-time All-Big 12 selection and a three-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team honoree. He also earned AP Honorable Mention All-American honors in 2024.
This past season, Lipsey averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Iowa State said he was the only power-conference player in the country to average those numbers since 2022 and the first Cyclone to do it since Tyrese Haliburton during the 2019-20 season.
Lipsey also finished with a 3.33 assist-to-turnover ratio, the seventh-best mark in Iowa State history, while his 2.3 steals per game ranked eighth in program history. His 77 steals this season rank fourth in school history, and his six games with at least five steals are the most ever by a Cyclone.
Those numbers only tell part of the story.
Lipsey leaves Iowa State as the program’s all-time leader in steals with 313. He also ranks fourth in career assists with 602. His 137 career starts are the most in Iowa State history, while his 98 career wins rank second in program history.
Over 137 games as a Cyclone, Lipsey averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. He finished his college career with 1,507 points, 602 assists, 518 rebounds and 314 steals.
Iowa State said Lipsey is the first player in Big 12 history to reach those career totals and only the fourth player in the NCAA since 1986-87 to do so.
Off the court, Lipsey built an equally impressive résumé. He was a three-time CSC Academic All-American and was named the 2026 CSC Academic All-American of the Year. He was also selected to the Allstate NACDA Winter Good Works Team.
For the Pacers, Lipsey brings the profile of a guard who can pressure the ball, run an offense, protect possessions and contribute in winning situations. Undrafted free agents often face a difficult path to an NBA roster, but Lipsey’s defensive reputation, experience and leadership could help him stand out during Summer League and training camp opportunities.
For Iowa State, Lipsey’s signing continues a strong NBA moment for the program after Jefferson’s first-round selection. It also gives Cyclone fans another reason to follow Summer League action in Las Vegas.
Lipsey now turns from one of the most decorated careers in Iowa State history to a new challenge: proving his college game can translate to the NBA.