Thunder rookie Otega Oweh underwent surgery on his right Achilles tendon, doctors said in New York. Can you imagine a rookie missing his debut? The procedure was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley with team medics present, the club confirmed.
The injury occurred in overtime of Oklahoma City’s preseason clash with the Pacers on Tuesday. He was escorted to the locker room, unable to bear weight on his right foot.
The Thunder confirmed the 23‑year‑old New Jersey native will sit out his entire rookie campaign, joining a growing list of recent draftees sidelined by serious injuries. For my money, the loss hampers the team’s depth. Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber missed the 2024‑25 and ’25‑26 seasons, respectively, after ACL tears.
Selected 41st overall in June, the 6‑ft‑4 guard spent his last two college years at Kentucky, posting 18.6 points and 4.8 rebounds as a senior and delivering a buzzer‑beater that defined this year’s NCAA tournament. He featured in four Thunder preseason games, averaging 6.8 points, 5.0 rebounds in 23.4 minutes.
Oweh currently fills one of Oklahoma City’s two‑way contracts, sharing the slot with Josh Dix and Brooks Barnhizer. If the club retains him all season, he’ll become a restricted free agent next summer. Will Oweh be ready for the 2025‑26 season?