Otega Oweh excited to be back 'home' in OKC: 'You're getting [a] junkyard dog.'

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Enjoying the glitz and glamour of being drafted and taking part in the introductory press conference, Otega Oweh understands he's still a ways away from actually establishing himself in the NBA. Sure, celebrate being taken with the No. 41 pick of the 2026 NBA draft. But the 23-year-old knows he has to show promise from the jump.

Oweh has hurdled through quite the obstacles to reach this point. He played four collegiate years from 2022-26. His first two years were pretty forgettable at Oklahoma. Entering the transfer portal, he made the risky move to Kentucky for his latter two years.

The move obviously paid off. Oweh went from struggling to get playing time at Oklahoma to being the best player in a blueblood program by the time his senior year rolled around. He averaged 18.6 points on 46.5% shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists this past season with the Wildcats.

The breakout year helped him gain buzz as an NBA draft prospect. The Thunder eventually added him with the No. 41 pick — which they acquired in a trade-back with the Miami Heat as they moved back four spots from No. 37.

After a couple of days of well-earned enjoyment of the milestone with his friends and family, Oweh is ready to hit the ground running. We don't know his contract status yet, but odds are, it'll be a two-way deal. Which means he'll be limited to 50 NBA games where he's active. So expect him to be with the G League's OKC Blue most of his rookie year.

"I'm obviously super familiar with OKC. Obviously, Norman is not too far from here. It's really just a full circle moment. I know the atmosphere is all basketball really. Because this is what OKC, they live and die basketball. So I'm kinda used to it already," Oweh said. "I'm excited to be in that environment. I got some good practice my first two years and then went to another school where they also live and die basketball and breathe it. So it's definitely something I'm excited and used to."

Even though Oweh flirted with a 20-point average his final year at Kentucky, he'll need to carve out an NBA role as a defense-first guy. The ball will be out of his hands. Most of his buckets will come off assists. To survive at this level, he has to hone in on the side of the floor that the Thunder have dominated in the last two years. He has the physique to keep up with the league's top perimeter players at 6-foot-5, 216 pounds. It's now about sharpening his technique.

It'll be interesting to see if Oweh sticks around. Usually, late second-round picks only last in the NBA for a couple of seasons. Which means the clock is already ticking. Still, he joined one of the best developmental organizations to help him reach a best-case outcome.

The Thunder hope Oweh can be another second-round gem. Their rotation has been filled with those guys over the years. Now, they need to restock the back of their bench with hidden gems once again. The NBA draft has served as a lifeblood for the small-market franchise in its entire existence.

"I’m home. I’m back home in OKC. I’m excited to get this going. The type of player you’re getting is a junkyard dog," Oweh said. "You're going to see improvement from me every single time I'm on the court. Aside from basketball, I’m a real down-to-Earth dude. Hope I can see all Thunder fans walking around outside and interact with me."

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Otega Oweh excited to be back 'home' in OKC: 'You're getting [a] junkyard dog.'

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