INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers two-way rookie center Oscar Tshiebwe has been named the 2023-24 NBA G-League Rookie of the Year, the Mad Ants organization announced Tuesday.
Tshiebwe, an undrafted 2023 rookie, has played games for both the Pacers and the Indiana Mad Ants throughout this season. Now, his efforts with the Mad Ants are being rewarded.
Despite falling out of the 2023 NBA Draft, Tshiebwe has now been named the best rookie player in the G-League this past season. In 33 games for the Mad Ants this year, Tshiebwe averaged 16.4 points and 16.1 rebounds per game.
Tshiebwe, 24, played college basketball at West Virginia and Kentucky after moving to the US from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, receiving consensus national player of the year honors in 2022 while playing for the Wildcats.
The 6'8", 260-pound Tshiebwe grew up playing soccer before going to a basketball camp led by Congolese NBA player Bismack Biyombo.
Earlier this season, Tshiebwe participated in NBA All-Star Weekend festivities that were held in Indianapolis. The Mad Ants standout was selected to play in the Rising Stars Challenge alongside fellow Pacer player Bennedict Mathurin.
Tshiebwe is currently on a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers, meaning he can play for both the NBA team and the Mad Ants and his salary is dependent on which team he is currently playing for.
When playing for the Pacers so far this 2023-24 season, Tshiebwe has averaged 3.3 points and 2 rebounds per game on 50% shooting from the field.