The Hawkeyes don't have a great history with the NBA, but there's a few notable Hawkeyes that earned some hardware during their pro careers.
Iowa men's basketball doesn't have an amazing history with the NBA, but another chapter of the program's professional basketball legacy could be written on Tuesday.
Bennett Stirtz was a Hawkeye for only one season, but he won Iowa fans over with his down-to-earth personality and winning basketball plays.
As Stirtz eagerly waits to hear his name called during the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft (7:00 p.m. CT, ESPN/ABC), take a few minutes to look back at some of the best Hawkeyes to win an NBA championship ring.
Bobby Hansen
There's no better player to begin this list then Bobby Hansen. He's known today for being the longtime radio color analyst for Iowa men's basketball games, but older Hawkeye fans vividly remember his playing career.
Hansen, a Des Moines native, guided Iowa to its most recent Final Four appearance in 1980 before embarking on a successful nine-year NBA stint with the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, and Chicago Bulls.
The Jazz selected Hansen with the 54th overall pick in 1983. He would spend seven seasons in Utah and was part of the Jazz's rise to prominence under John Stockton and Karl Malone. Hansen was traded to the Kings in 1990, but his most prominent stint came with the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls were coming off their first NBA title under Michael Jordan, and Hansen served as a backup to Jordan in 1992. Hansen played a key role in helping Chicago rally from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to win the 1`992 NBA Finals over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Hansen retired from the NBA after the title and has been broadcasting Hawkeye basketball games ever since.
B.J. Armstrong
Arguably one of the greatest point guards in Iowa basketball history, Armstrong immediately transferred his talents to the NBA. He was drafted 18th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1989, where he helped usher in one of the greatest dynasties in sports.
Armstrong was a member of the Bulls' first "three-peat" championship run from 1991-1993. He moved into the starting lineup for the 1992-93 season, recording the best three-point shooting percentage in the league. Armstrong earned All-Star honors in 1994 during Michael Jordan's hiatus from the team, but he was traded after the 1995 season.
Armstrong played for three other teams in the 1990s before finishing his career in Chicago in 2000. He is now a member of the Sacramento Kings' front office.
John Johnson
Loyal HawkeyeRoundtable readers already know about Johnson because of his son, Mitch, coaching the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA Finals.
While the younger Johnson is well on his way towards a successful coaching career, the elder Johnson is known for his playing career. After leading Iowa to a special season in 1970, he embarked on a great 12-year career with four teams, but was best remembered for his tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics.
Johnson's two All-Star berths came with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his postseason success came in the Emerald City. The Sonics reached two NBA Finals during his career (1978 and 1979) and won the championship in 1979.
Johnson and former Hawkeye teammate Fred Brown became extremely popular in Seattle during this time, and both remain team legends nearly 20 years since the Sonics' relocation to Oklahoma City.
Johnson died at age 68 in 2016.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
