Oscar Tshiebwe Signs Two-Way Deal With Indiana Pacers
After calling Lexington home for two seasons, former Kentucky superstar Oscar Tshiebwe is making a short journey westward to begin his professional basketball career.
After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, the 2021-22 unanimous National Player of the Year has reportedly agreed to a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers, per The Athletic's Shams Charania:
The Pacers were among a heap of teams that Tshiebwe worked out for in the lead up to the draft. He'll join forces with fellow former Wildcat forward Isaiah Jackson in Indianapolis.
Tshiebwe joins Jacob Toppin as undrafted Cats to ink a free-agent deal. Toppin is headed to the New York Knicks, point guard Cason Wallace was selected No. 10 overall and traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, while forward Chris Livingston was taken by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 58th and final pick of the night.
Tshiebwe averaged 16.9 points and 14.4 rebounds per game in 66 UK appearances. He ranks tied for second in career double-doubles (48), sixth in all-time career rebounds (952) and 48th in scoring (1,117).
He's Kentucky's ninth two-time consensus All-American and earned or was a finalist for the following awards in his second season in Lexington:
- USBWA Second-Team All-America
- NABC Second-Team All-America
- Associated Press Second-Team All-America
- Sporting News Third-Team All-America
- All-SEC First Team (coaches and media)
- John R. Wooden Award finalist
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award finalist
- Oscar Robertson Trophy late season watch list
It all followed the Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo native becoming the program's first unanimous National Player of the Year after hauling in 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds a game, taking the college basketball world by storm.
He earned about every major award he was eligible for, cementing his place as a Kentucky legend before deciding to return for a second season. He led the Cats with 16.5 points and a nation-best 13.7 boards per game last season.
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