Oscar Tshiebwe believes an NBA team "will love what I do"

Oscar Tshiebwe might not have shown NBA scouts anything new with his exceptional performance at the NBA Draft Combine on Wednesday, but there’s no denying he had a positive outing. To little surprise, Tshiebwe put on a rebounding clinic during the 5-on-5 portion of Wednesday’s Combine, dropping 10 points and 16 rebounds as a starter for Team Bailey.

The Kentucky center inhaled everything on the glass on both ends, finding easy buckets around the rim through offensive boards and hitting a handful of his trademark mid-range jumpers. He looked lighter on his feet and even flexed an impressive block on the defensive end. It wasn’t a perfect showing by any means, but one that surely made NBA personnel at least pay attention to what he was doing on the floor.

After the game was over, Tshiebwe spoke with members of the media where he divulged that he’s already worked out for the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, and Sacramento Kings. More notably though, he also seems adamant he can make it as an NBA player.

“I believe there will be a team in the NBA that will love what I do,” Tshiebwe told reporters, according to Adam Zagoria of ZAGSBLOG.

Oscar Tshiebwe of ⁦@KentuckyMBB⁩ has worked out for the Celtics, Bucks, Rockets and Kings

‘I believe there will be a team in the NBA that will love what I do’ pic.twitter.com/3NiY9Lt162

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 17, 2023

Nice two-way sequence by Oscar Tshiebwe. Gets the block on one end and then the offensive rebound and putback. pic.twitter.com/jj9VvUcjCX

— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) May 17, 2023

The Big Blue Nation is currently waiting on pins and needles to see what Tshiebwe ultimately decides to do. Does he return to Kentucky and play a fifth season of college basketball at age 24? Or does he begin his professional career in hopes of developing into a pro-level prospect sooner rather than later? His decision will play a heavy role in what the Wildcats’ roster looks like in 2023-24.

Following Tuesday’s NBA Draft Lottery, Tshiebwe still isn’t projected to hear his name called in either of the two rounds in June’s Draft. He has until May 31 to pull his name out of draft consideration. A team could possibly take a flier on him as an undrafted, two-way player, or even spend a late-second-round pick on him.

Among the four teams that Tshiebwe says he’s worked out for so far, two of them possess a pick that could make some sense for a potential landing spot. Sacramento with the 54th pick and Milwaukee with the 58th and final pick in the draft. He will almost certainly work out with more teams between now and the end of the month.

A final decision is just over the horizon.