Oscar Tshiebwe voted NBA G League Rookie of the Year
Oscar Tshiebwe voted NBA G League Rookie of the Year
Tshiebwe went undrafted last June, signed a two-way contract with the Pacers, and set numerous rebounding records while playing for the Indiana Mad Ants.
First-year center Oscar Tshiebwe led the nation in rebounding the past two seasons at the University of Kentucky. And that continued into the pros.
On a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers, Tshiebwe was named NBA G League Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
After going undrafted in July, he signed with the Pacers and then maximized his opportunity.
“This has been part of my dream — to go through this process and try to get in the league,” he said last year. “It’s something I’ve been thinking of since I started playing basketball.”
Tshiwbwe averaged 16.4 points and 16.1 rebounds per game this season with the Indiana Mad Ants. He recorded 27 double-doubles in 33 games, set the franchise record for rebounds, the single-game record for rebounds (28), and he had 10 games with 18-plus boards.
He was selected to play in the Rising Stars at NBA All-Star Weekend in Indy, as well as the G League Up Next Games. And in the Up Next games, he hit the game-winning free throw to help his team go 2-0.
See Also: Bennedict Mathurin, Tshiebwe meet with media to preview Rising Stars and discuss All-Star Weekend
Tshiebwe is a humble, grateful and optimistic human who is great to be around.
“He has a lot of energy, a lot of good energy,” Mathurin said. “He smiles a lot. Sometimes it's not fun for me because he's always smiling; we're losing and he's smiling.
“But it's great to have him around. Him being in the Rising Stars game, he’s worked really hard.”
Also of note: Mad Ants coach Tom Hankins, who led the team to a franchise record 36 wins, finished runner-up for G League Coach of the Year. It was won by Stockton Kings first-year head coach Lindsey Harding, who played in the WNBA from 2007-2016.
“He’s just so stinking strong,” Hankins said of Tshiebwe. “He has a great knack for getting rebounds.”
And I highly recommend you watch what Tshiebwe to say after his pre-draft workout with the Pacers on June 12, 2023.
“The best thing I bring to the team is my rebound ability,” he said. “It’s a gift and it’s effort and it’s hard work. I watched Dennis Rodman, the man was a beast. He helped Mike Jordan win a couple championships.
“The thing that’s missing on so many teams is somebody who can go do the dirty work, rebound, try to fight for position and grab an extra rebound, give to the team; shoot again and if you miss, I’ll fight again.”