INDIANAPOLIS -- The most accomplished college player on the Pacers’ Summer League roster isn’t first-round picks Jarace Walker or Ben Sheppard. It’s not even last year’s first-team All-Rookie selection Bennedict Mathurin.
The most decorated college career on the team’s Summer League squad belongs to undrafted rookie Oscar Tshiebwe. After being college basketball’s consensus national player of the year in 2022 and being an All-American again in 2023, the 6-9 big man did not hear his name called in last week’s NBA draft. Tshiebwe was not fazed by going undrafted.
“It’s God’s plan, so now I gotta come and fight for it,” Tshiebwe said after the Pacers’ Summer League practice Sunday. “Even the people who got drafted, we’re still in the same position. We gotta fight all the time.”
More: Why Bennedict Mathurin is playing for the Pacers' Summer League team
Tshiebwe agreed to a two-way contract with the Pacers the day after the draft, and now he’s out to prove that there is a spot for him in the NBA. Tshiebwe, who spent his last two college seasons at Kentucky after beginning at West Virginia, is more of a traditional center. He attempted only two 3-pointers in college, both of which came in his final season at Kentucky.
The Congolese center is known as a dominant rebounder. Tshiebwe led all of Division I in rebounds per game in 2022 and '23. He’s hoping to prove his skill set brings value in the upcoming Summer League in Las Vegas.
“I’ve just got to go fight. … I’m still learning this game. People know I can rebound, I can run. Just gotta go get it. We gotta go win those four games. That’s my plan right now, to go win those four games,” Tshiebwe said.
Tshiebwe, 23, did not play basketball until he was 14 years old. Eighteen months later, in November 2015, he moved to the United States and became a highly-touted recruit.
“What I like about this is that God has brought me here,” Tshiebwe said. “I dreamed about this when I started playing basketball. People told me it was impossible because I started playing basketball so late.”
Now, Tshiebwe is looking to make his presence felt on the court. Tshiebwe said he had a crucial offensive rebound and assist in Sunday’s scrimmage to lead his team to victory.
That’s the role Tshiebwe is looking to craft for himself: Fighter. He knows he is still catching up as far as grasping the game, but Tshiebwe doesn’t want anything handed to him.
“That’s one thing I do is just fight,” Tshiebwe claimed. “I don’t take anything for granted and I don’t like to be given things for free. You just gotta let me go get it. That’s what I do.”
In the first two days of Summer League practice, Tshiebwe battled Walker and Isaiah Jackson, who were first-round picks in 2023 and 2021, respectively. He has loved the competition against two other strong frontcourt players.
“Jarace, beast. Isaiah, beast. Including me, they’ve got three beasts. … I like when we go against beasts because when beasts go against beasts, I don’t know who’s going to survive,” Tshiebwe said.
Tshiebwe rose to the top of college basketball without being an elite scorer. He never led the SEC in scoring, but anyone who watched Kentucky play saw his impact. After he worked out for the Pacers in June, he knew the team could be an option if he went undrafted. Going into Summer League, Tshiebwe doesn’t want to play outside his limits.
“Today I was going for every rebound,” Tshiebwe said after practice. “I like to get more rebounds than to score a lot of points. Every time I get a lot of points and didn’t rebound, I feel bad. But every time I get a lot of rebounds, I feel good.”
Time will tell if Tshiebwe can earn a spot on the Pacers’ main roster. He’ll get the chance to show his abilities to the franchise throughout the team’s five-game Summer League schedule. Tshiebwe and the team will begin play on Saturday, July 8, when they face the Wizards at 8 p.m. EST.
"spot" - Google News
July 03, 2023 at 03:44AM
https://ift.tt/R5jeSaF
Former NCAA Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe fighting for a spot on Pacers roster - IndyStar
"spot" - Google News
https://ift.tt/OGgSAeD
https://ift.tt/d01WMgU
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Former NCAA Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe fighting for a spot on Pacers roster - IndyStar"
Post a Comment