Otega Oweh’s NBA debut will have to wait.
The Oklahoma City Thunder announced Wednesday night that the former Kentucky guard has undergone a successful procedure to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon, an injury he suffered in the team’s preseason game against the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 13. Oweh will miss the remainder of the 2026-27 season.
“Thunder PR announces Otega Oweh is out for the season. Right Achilles rupture. pic.twitter.com/vaPWmMG4ws
- Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) October 15, 2026”
The procedure was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, with Thunder medical personnel present, according to the team. Oklahoma City said further updates will be provided as appropriate.
Oweh was selected No. 41 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft after a standout run at Kentucky. The 23-year-old earned back-to-back All-SEC Second Team honors in Lexington, where he started 72 games over two seasons and scored 1,255 points.
He returned to UK for his senior year after testing the draft waters last offseason, then put together a strong final college campaign in 2025-26. Oweh averaged 18.6 points while shooting .465/.333/.731, and added 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals in 32.8 minutes per game.
Before becoming a Wildcat, the New Jersey native began his college career at Oklahoma and later entered the transfer portal to join Mark Pope’s first team in Lexington.
Kentucky fans will remember Oweh’s game-winning shots against Oklahoma and Santa Clara in the NCAA Tournament, moments that helped define his run in college. Now, both he and the Thunder will have to wait to see what comes next after a brutal preseason setback.
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