Offensive Game
Limited to paint scoring — putbacks, rolls, and lobs. Not a perimeter threat but converts efficiently when he gets the ball near the basket.
Career Journey
Indiana Pacers
2022-2023
Toronto Raptors
2023
Utah Jazz
2023-present
2022 consensus National Player of the Year
Swept the major awards at Kentucky (Naismith, Wooden, Oscar Robertson) while leading the NCAA in rebounding.
G League Rookie of the Year + rebounding record
Named G League Rookie of the Year with Indiana and set an NBA G League single-season rebounding record.
Jazz two-way & G League dominance
Re-signed a two-way with Utah in 2025 and led the G League in rebounding for the Salt Lake City Stars with multiple 20-20 games.
| Season | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 27 | 7.8 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 63.4% | 0.0% |
Oscar Tshiebwe rebounds like it is a personal insult to let the ball hit the floor. The Congolese big swept the 2022 National Player of the Year awards at Kentucky — Naismith, Wooden, Oscar Robertson — after leading all of college basketball in rebounding, then went undrafted in 2023 because teams were unsure where a ground-bound, non-shooting center fits. He has spent the years since answering that with sheer production: G League Rookie of the Year with Indiana, a single-season G League rebounding record, and back-to-back All-NBA G League First Team nods. In 2025-26 he re-signed a two-way with Utah and again punished the glass for the Salt Lake City Stars while giving the Jazz spot minutes. The knock is real — his game lives below the free-throw line in an era that prizes stretch bigs — but elite rebounding and motor are their own kind of skill, and they have kept him employed.
Offensive Game
Limited to paint scoring — putbacks, rolls, and lobs. Not a perimeter threat but converts efficiently when he gets the ball near the basket.
Defensive Game
Physical interior defender who uses size and strength well. Active on rotations and competes hard in post-up situations.
Intangibles
Understands where to be on the glass and in the paint. Positional awareness for rebounding is exceptional even if overall IQ is still developing.
Off the Court
Advocates for his home country of DRC
Did You Know?
His 15.2 RPG average at Kentucky was among the highest rebounding averages in decades of college basketball.
Went undrafted despite winning the John Wooden Award — a surprising slide that fueled his motivation to prove himself.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to the US to pursue his basketball dream — his path is one of the most unique in recent NBA history.
His nickname 'Mr. 17-15' at Kentucky referenced his nearly impossible PPG-RPG averages that season.
Career Honors
2022 John Wooden Award
2022 AP Player of the Year
2022 SEC Player of the Year
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Utah Jazz
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