Undrafted Kentucky basketball star makes NBA contract official

Kentucky star Oscar Tshiebwe didn’t hear his name called during the NBA Draft, but has found a home in the NBA.

Oscar Tshiebwe wasn’t one of the 60 players lucky enough to hear their name called in the 2023 NBA Draft, but the former Kentucky basketball star has made his way into the league by signing with the Indiana Pacers. Tshiebwe’s contract does not come without stipulations, as it’s a two-way deal, but he does have a path to NBA minutes if he can prove himself at the lower level and make the most out of any NBA minutes he can get.

The Pacers announced the Tshiebwe signing on Monday, along with Isaiah Wong who they selected with the 55th pick in the draft. Both players can earn up to $449,155 on a two-way deal, and can spend up to 50 games with the big-league club. Two-way deals are frequently converted to full NBA contracts if players perform well and teams have a roster spot open.

Tshiebwe played a full four years at the college level, first with West Virginia, then transferring to the Wildcats for his final two years. He averaged a double-double in points and rebounds both years at Kentucky, earning a first-team nod to All-SEC and All-America in 2022 as well as AP Player of the Year.

His final year came with a reduced efficiency, and that along with his age scared some teams away from drafting him.

In his final mock draft, our draft expert Chris Kline had Tshiebwe mocked at 55 to the Pacers, where he would ultimately land.

Pacers have broad latitude to develop Oscar Tshiebwe

With a two-way deal, Tshiebwe will split time between the G-League and the NBA. He has every chance to let hustle and work ethic be his calling card to get up to the league.

It’s no shock that he ended up somewhere like Indiana, Hoosier Country, where limitations like age aren’t considered as much. What matters most in Indy is whether or not you can play ball, and how hard you’re willing to work.

If Tshiebwe can approach his time with the Pacers with a humble motor, he can prove he should have been taken on draft night.