Oscar Tshiebwe

Oscar Tshiebwe, born on the 27th of November, 1999, is a revered professional basketball player hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo. His career in the United States began with the Indiana Pacers, part of the prestigious National Basketball Association (NBA), with a two-way contract which allowed him to play with the Indiana Mad Ants, part of the NBA G League. Previously, he also showcased his impressive basketball skills during his college years, playing for the West Virginia Mountaineers and Kentucky Wildcats. In 2022, he earned his stripes as a fiercely competitive player and was recognized as the consensus national player of the year.

Tshiebwe hails from Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he spent his childhood mainly playing soccer. However, due to his above-average height which was more suited to basketball, he was persuaded to take up the sport instead. Tshiebwe spent his early years training intensively, often running on hills and nearby mountains to increase his stamina. His big break came at a basketball camp led by Bismack Biyombo, a renowned NBA player from Congo, who helped Tshiebwe hone his skills and move his career forward.

Tshiebwe’s basketball journey began in earnest only in May 2014, and he seized the opportunity to travel to the United States in November 2015. His time in America started with his freshman year of high school at Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia. He later transferred to Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage, Pennsylvania for his junior year, demonstrating his remarkable playing potential.

At Kennedy Catholic, Tshiebwe’s skills shone brightly as he averaged 21.1 points per game and led his team to win the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class 1A championship. His outstanding performance earned him first team honors in Class 1A All-State. Stepping up his game in his senior year, he averaged 23.4 points, 18 rebounds, and five blocks per game, steering Kennedy Catholic towards a 24–3 record and the PIAA Class 6A championship. Tshiebwe’s persistent hard work led to him receiving the acclaimed Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year.

Tshiebwe tasted success on the Adidas Gauntlet, playing for ITPS Wildcats Select, with an average of 21.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game. In recognition of his efforts, he was invited to participate in noted games such as the McDonald’s All-American Game and Nike Hoop Summit. He was furthermore recognized as a five-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports, and a four-star recruit by ESPN. Eventually, on October 20, 2018, he made his decision to play college basketball for West Virginia.

The beginning of his college career was promising, with Tshiebwe making remarkable contributions to his team, such as the double-double with 20 points and 17 rebounds at his second college game in Pittsburgh. He earned accolades including the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. He also played a significant role in West Virginia’s victory over Wichita State in the Cancun Challenge championship game, earning MVP honors. Following the regular season, he was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 and the All-Newcomer Team.

In 2020, Tshiebwe took a bold leap in his career and transferred to Kentucky, distinguishing himself through his skills on the court. His debut performance for Kentucky saw him score 17 points with 20 rebounds, though the team was defeated by Duke. Throughout the season, Tshiebwe then went on to achieve numerous accolades such as the Sporting News National Player of the Year and the unanimous Southeastern Conference Player of the Year.

Tshiebwe’s professional career jump took place when he signed a two-way contract as an undrafted player with the Indiana Pacers, also playing for their NBA G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants. On December 9, 2023, he made his debut in the NBA in the In-Season Tournament championship game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Away from the sporting arena, Tshiebwe is a devoted Christian. Upon his transfer to Kennedy Catholic High School, he was taken under the wings of Jeff Kollar and his wife, who offered him their legal guardianship. Interestingly, the Kollar couple had previously exercised guardianship over Mohamed and Sagaba Konate, players from Kennedy Catholic and West Virginia, further implementing their support in the sports education.

Among his impressive accolades, Tshiebwe bears the title of a Kentucky Colonel. He is also an influencer regarding name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Although restricted by his student visa from making paid appearances and endorsement shoots, Tshiebwe managed to gain sponsorship deals. Efforts to alter his visa status to “extraordinary ability” have been initiated to allow him full advantage of his celebrity.

Despite these restrictions, Tshiebwe managed to temporarily escape his visa conditions when the Wildcats embarked on a preseason exhibition tour to the Bahamas. During this tour, Tshiebwe dedicated his downtime to promotional activities, including photo shoots and signing memorabilia. By the end of this tour, he had reportedly made $500,000, tallying his total NIL earnings to $2.75 million over 6 months. Beyond his professional interests, Tshiebwe employed his NIL earnings for charitable reasons, including the purchase of a five-bedroom house for his mother and funding a charitable foundation for children in his homeland.