Why ex-All-American Oscar Tshiebwe has failed to stick in NBA

To a casual fan, it might be puzzling how such a decorated college player could enter the league on the fringes and, a year later, still lack a guaranteed roster spot.

The reason is simple: Tshiebwe's playing style is no longer in high demand in the league.

To understand this, let's examine what the 2023-24 NBA G League Rookie of the Year offers — and lacks — on the court.

Tshiebwe's best playing quality is his rebounding. In his final two seasons at Kentucky, he led the nation in rebounding, averaging 15.2 per game in 2022 and 13.7 in 2023. He carried this skill into the NBA G League, setting a season record for rebounds per game (16.2) during the 2023-24 season.

The 6-foot-8, 255-pound Tshiebwe also recorded 27 double-doubles, had seven games with 20+ points and 20+ rebounds, broke the Indiana Mad Ants' record for most rebounds in a game with 28 and made the All-NBA G League first-team.

His strong hands and 7-foot-3-inch wingspan enable him to grab rebounds that other players his height can't reach. Additionally, he's fearless in getting physical down low and runs the floor exceptionally well for his size.

However, Tshiebwe's lack of size and, more importantly, athleticism will be a significant challenge throughout his NBA career. With a vertical leap of just 29.5 inches and a lane-agility time of 12.26 seconds — the second slowest at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine— Tshiebwe lacks the athleticism needed to dominate down low against NBA players as he did in college and the G League. 

This deficiency in speed and quickness makes him a frequent target in pick-and-roll situations, often forcing him into drop coverage and leading to open shots for opponents. Tshiebwe's lack of size and athleticism can make him prone to fouls in the NBA, a tendency that was evident in college when he occasionally swung his elbows too much while trying to carve out space.

Overall, Tshiebwe embodies a style of play that is rapidly fading in the NBA.

Unlike players such as Detroit's Paul Reed, who increased his vertical leap from 28 to 34 inches in 2022, or other undersized centers and power forwards who can stretch the floor or offer athleticism, Tshiebwe relies on positioning and strength. He evokes memories of "big" men from the 1990s and 2000s, such as Chuck Hayes, Danny Fortson or Reggie Evans.

Unfortunately for Tshiebwe, this player type is becoming increasingly rare in the league. Despite securing a two-way contract with Utah, his chances of breaking into their center or power forward rotation are slim, as he faces competition from John Collins, Walker Kessler, Drew Eubanks, Taylor Hendricks and Kyle Filipowski.

Tshiebwe may have to accept a role as a G League star or a fringe NBA rotation player, as the league has largely abandoned his style of play.