Khem Birch

Khem Birch's Biography

Khem Xavier Birch is an accomplished Canadian professional basketball player, born on September 28, 1992. Currently, he plays for Fenerbahçe, a renowned team in the Turkish BSL and the EuroLeague. Birch’s sports journey is a story of resilience, talent, and dedication, that began in his high school years and has led him to represent Canada on multiple global platforms.

Birch initially discovered his talents and passion for basketball during his early teenage years. He played varsity basketball at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School located in Russell, Ontario. However, his high school career extended beyond Ontario, as it continued at The Winchendon School in Winchendon, Massachusetts, and Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

After successfully traversing the challenges of high school basketball, Birch decided to elevate his game to collegiate basketball. In the 2011-2012 season, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, showcasing his skills with the Pittsburgh Panthers. However, his second year, in 2012, saw him transferring to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he joined the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. Birch’s junior year in the 2013-2014 season was remarkably successful as he averaged 10.2 rebounds per game, marking him as the third highest in the Mountain West Conference. Additionally, he averaged 3.8 blocks per game, the second highest in the same conference. Throughout his 69 games college career, Birch averaged impressive stats: 8.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists during an average playtime of 25.4 minutes.

In April 2014, Birch decided to forego his last year of college eligibility to enter the NBA draft. Although he wasn’t drafted, he joined the Washington Wizards for the 2014 NBA Summer League. He then signed with his first NBA team, the Miami Heat in September 2014. Despite later being waived by the Heat, Birch was recruited by the Sioux Falls Skyforce as an affiliate player a month later.

Birch’s performance during the 2015 NBA D-League All-Star Game earned him recognition as part of the Futures All-Star team. During the 2014-2015 NBA D-League season, Birch averaged 11.1 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game, 1.8 blocks per game, and 0.7 steals per game over a total of 52 games played.

Upon the completion of his tenure with the Skyforce, Birch signed with Uşak Sportif of the Turkish Super League (BSL) in June 2015. Throughout the 2015-2016 season, Birch recorded commendable stats, averaging 10.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 0.5 steals per game in the 32 games he played.

By June 2016, Birch’s impressive performance had made waves internationally, and he was signed to play in Greece with the defending Greek Basket League champions, Olympiacos. Birch opted out of his contract with Olympiacos in July 2017 to give the NBA another shot, signing with the Orlando Magic later that month.

Birch’s tenure with the Orlando Magic was a series of highs and lows. He recorded career highs and showcased excellent performances, averaging 14 points, 15 rebounds, and four steals with four assists and two blocks in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021. However, less than a year later, Birch was waived by the Magic.

Just two days later after being waived by the Magic, Birch was signed for the remainder of the 2020-2021 season by the Toronto Raptors. His journey with the Raptors was highlighted by several noteworthy performances, such as scoring a career-high of 20 points in a game against the Denver Nuggets.

In August 2021, Birch re-signed with the Raptors on a three-year deal for just over $20 million. However, in February 2023, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Jakob Poeltl, alongside a first-round draft pick and two future second-round draft picks. Following less than a year with the Spurs, Birch signed with Bàsquet Girona of the Spanish Liga ACB in February 2024. Later that year, Birch proceeded to sign a one-year deal with the Turkish titans, Fenerbahçe.

Outside of his club commitments, Birch has consistently showcased his talent on the international stage. A part of Canada’s junior national teams, Birch helped secure a bronze medal at the 2010 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship. He has also represented Canada at the 2016 Manila FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China. Most notably, Birch was selected for Canada’s roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Alongside his sporting profession, Birch’s personal life is embedded with love and family. He has three brothers and has been a passionate Toronto Raptors fan since childhood. It was a passion he shared with his father, who would drive him over five hours to Toronto to catch a live game at the Air Canada Centre. In 2018, Birch entered the institution of marriage and became a father to a beautiful daughter in 2019. As Birch continues his professional journey, he carries his family’s support, love for the sport, and the pride of the maple leaf on his shoulders.