Tuesday’s preseason opener won’t be at Paycom Center, but for Otega Oweh it still comes with a familiar feel.
The Thunder rookie wing is heading into a setting that lines up closely with part of his college past. Oweh spent his final two years at Kentucky, but his freshman and sophomore seasons were at Oklahoma, and Lloyd Noble Center sits only about a 30-minute drive up I-35 from Oklahoma City’s base.
His last home game in the Sooner State came on March 13, 2024, when he put up 16 points, four rebounds and three steals against TCU. Even with Tuesday’s game taking place in Tulsa, about two hours southwest of Norman, Oweh has already said he knows "exactly what I'm coming into" when it comes to the pressure and meaning of playing in Oklahoma.
He may also be in line for a larger workload than usual against New Orleans.
Before the 7pm (CT) tip-off, the Thunder announced seven players would sit out, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, along with Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber. That opens the door for minutes, and Oweh looks like one of the players who could benefit most.
It would also mark his first in-game action since he was hurt in just his second Summer League appearance. Even in that limited run, he flashed the kind of two-way skill set that drew attention in the first place.
That same versatility has apparently carried over into camp. Coach Mark Daigneault recently described Oweh as a player who "makes things happen."
Before the draft, the 23-year-old was viewed as a do-everything prospect, the kind of player Sam Presti has long valued. Oweh’s appeal runs through the little things: rebounding, cutting without the ball, and defending multiple positions.
And if he keeps showing that kind of utility, he could wind up filling Oklahoma City’s final open roster spot.
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