The 2026 NBA Draft will be an important event for teams to build for their future. Here is the Joshua Jefferson NBA Draft Profile.
Position: Forward
Size: 6-foot-7.75, 246 pounds
Class: Senior
College: Iowa State
2025-2026 stats: 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks, 47.1% FG, 34.5% 3FG, 70.0% FT
Jefferson was a three-star recruit who signed with St. Mary’s out of Nevada in the class of 2022. He played two seasons at St. Mary’s, averaging 2.2 points as a freshman and 10.2 as a sophomore. The Gaels made the NCAA Tournament in each of his two seasons. Before the 2024-25 season, Jefferson transferred to Iowa State. In his first season as a Cyclone, he put up 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He helped the team make the NCAA Tournament second round. This past season, Jefferson averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. Jefferson was injured in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and the Cyclones lost in the Sweet 16.
Following the NCAA Tournament, Jefferson has been preparing for the 2026 NBA Draft. He is currently projected to be a late first-round pick.
Jefferson has good size and strength for his position. He measured in at 6-foot-7 and 246 pounds, which gives him a size and strength advantage over most players who have guarded him. His wingspan measures close to 6-feet and 11 inches long. Jefferson’s size gives him the ability to play a few different positions for a team.
His playmaking as a forward is a unique strength of his game. He sported a 4.8 to 2.5 assist to turnover ratio last season at Iowa State. Jefferson makes plays for his teammates as he sees the floor well and finds open shots for his offense. He can operate the pick and roll, which can put defenses in tough spots, given that they usually have to bring a bigger player out to guard on the perimeter.
He has good defensive effectiveness and versatility. His size allows him to guard multiple positions and he can also switch and guard when it is necessary. Jefferson showed a knack for jumping passing lanes and generating steals. He averaged 1.6 last season and 2.1 the year before that, showing good consistency in his career.
Jefferson is a skilled player, but doesn’t have the greatest athleticism. He doesn’t have great speed or quickness, which does let him get beat off the dribble. On offense, he can struggle creating space for himself. Jefferson isn’t the greatest jumper either, as he rarely finishes plays with dunks and often has to finish with layups.
His shooting will need to be more consistent at the next level for him to really be a threat. Jefferson did shoot the best percentage of his career from deep last season at 34.5 percent, but that needs to improve. He does most of his damage in the paint of in the mid-range, but he needs to work on his shooting touch from deep to space the floor. Jefferson can also improve his percentage from the free throw line.
Jefferson could finish at the rim better for a player of his size. He can finish over smaller players, but that may not happen as often as it did at the college level. His relative lack of athleticism can make it tough for him to finish and make adjustments in the air to get the ball in the basket.
Projected Draft Range: Late First Round Pick
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