Oscar Tshiebwe became college basketball's most dominant player with 'terrible vision'
What if I told you Oscar Tshiebwe became one of the most dominant college basketball players of this generation with serious vision issues? Arguably the best rebounder the game has ever seen, but could hardly see the boards he was pulling down every game?
Interestingly enough, it’s true.
Tshiebwe, now a two-way player in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, debuted a new look this week with the franchise’s G-League affiliate. The Indiana Mad Ants shared a few photos of the former Wildcat sporting goggles in practice.
And he pulls them off pretty nicely.
Why? Kyle Tucker of The Athletic reported Thursday that Tshiebwe was “half-blind” during his time in Lexington, visiting an optometrist for the first time this summer. There, the former Wildcat learned his vision was, well, not the best.
“Found out he had terrible vision,” Tucker said. “Imagine if he could’ve seen!”
“It is true I need glasses,” Tshiebwe responded on social media. “I want to thank my eye doctor, Dr. Tammy Hoskins. I will continue to work and do great things in the NBA.”
Tshiebwe was a unanimous two-year All-American at Kentucky, highlighted by consensus National Player of the Year honors as a junior in 2021-22. He averaged a career-high 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds per contest in year one, followed by 16.5 points and 13.7 rebounds per game as a senior. The former Wildcat would finish his career tied for second in career double-doubles with 48 and second in scoring over a two-year period (1,117 points) behind only Bill Spivey (1,213).
Following his historic tenure in Lexington, Tshiebwe went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft and signed with the Pacers in free agency. His two-way contract means the 6-foot-9 center can earn up to $449,155 — a flat rate equal to 50 percent of the minimum player salary applicable to a player with zero years of service — and will be allowed to play 50 games with the franchise in year one with no limit on practices, workouts and other activities.
Tshiebwe will make his debut with the Indiana Mad Ants on Saturday, Nov. 11 in the team’s trip to Sioux Falls, tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Hopefully he brings his goggles.
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