July 24, 2026, 2:28 p.m. CT<\/p>\n
On Friday, the Houston Rockets<\/a> announced the signing of free agent center Oscar Tshiebwe. Terms of the contract, including the deal\u2019s length and whether there is any guaranteed money, were not disclosed.<\/p>\n The 26-year-old is listed at 6-foot-9 and 265 pounds, according to the team\u2019s announcement<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tshiebwe was eligible for the 2023 NBA draft following his senior season at Kentucky.\u00a0From there, Tshiebwe spent his 2023-24 rookie season as a two-way player with Indiana before playing the past two seasons on a two-way contract<\/a> with Utah.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 49 career NBA games with seven starts, Tshiebwe has averaged 7.0 points (61.3% FG) and 6.5 rebounds in 15.2 minutes.<\/p>\n In NBA history, Tshiebwe is the only player with 15-plus games played to have averaged at least 15.0 rebounds and 6.0 offensive boards per 36 minutes.\u00a0For his G League career, he has averaged 16.9 rebounds and 6.8 offensive boards in 97 tip-off tournament and regular-season games.<\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n As the Rockets approach the start of their 2026-27 training camp in September, Tshiebwe joins veteran Clint Capela as depth options behind Houston\u2019s primary duo of centers, Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams.<\/p>\n Tshiebwe is believed to have one more season of two-way eligibility<\/a> remaining, which could help his chances to make a roster that is already deep in established big men. Sengun, Adams, and Capela are all under contract<\/a> for at least the next two seasons.<\/p>\n Should he not secure a spot on the final NBA roster, Tshiebwe could then be a candidate for Houston\u2019s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers.<\/p>\n As a junior at Kentucky, Tshiebwe became the first player in school history to earn unanimous National Player of the Year honors.\u00a0He led the nation in rebounding in both of his seasons with the Wildcats.<\/p>\n Dating back to 1980-81, Tshiebwe\u2019s 15.1 rebounds per game clip in 2021-22 was the highest average by any NCAA Division I player with at least five games played.<\/p>\n