Josh Kanaly - Thunder Announce Season Ending Achilles Surgery for Rookie Otega Oweh
The Oklahoma City Thunder announce that second-round rookie Otega Oweh had a successful surgery on his torn right achilles tendon that was suffered during Oklahoma City’s preseason win over the Indiana Pacers Tuesday night.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without rookie guard Otega Oweh for the entire 2026-2027 season after he suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon during Tuesday’s preseason game against the Indiana Pacers.
It’s a cruel start for a young player who has already had a bumpy path to the start of his NBA career.
Oweh was the 41st overall pick in the 2026 draft, acquired in a trade down from No. 37 with Miami. He then signed a one-year, two-way contract in July, but missed the end of Summer League with a sprained left ankle. This injury represents a significant setback for the second-round pick, who was preparing to begin his professional basketball career after a standout college career at Oklahoma and Kentucky.
Oweh’s injury comes at an unfortunate time for the rookie looking to establish himself in the NBA and within the Thunder system but instead will now have to focus on rehabilitation and recovery.
For a second-round selection, a rookie season can be especially valuable. Every practice, game, and opportunity to compete against NBA talent provides experience that cannot be replicated outside of live in-game reps.
Now, much of that development will have to take place away from the court. Otega Oweh will miss an entire season of live-game experience, delaying his opportunity to establish a role and demonstrate how his skill set translates to the professional level.
Fortunately for OKC, Oweh’s absence does not leave the team without alternatives in the backcourt. The Thunder have plenty of depth at the position that will compete for minutes, such as Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Alex Caruso.
Oweh was not expected to be a central part of the Thunder’s rotation this season, making his sudden absence less disruptive to the team’s short-term championship aspirations than the loss of an established rotational player would be. However, it does remove another developmental option and more depth for an organization that stresses the importance of both.
Oklahoma City can absorb the immediate roster impact, but Oweh’s personal setback is far more significant. The rookie loses an entire season that could have helped establish the foundation of his NBA career. His focus will be on rehabilitation, maintaining his development where possible and working toward a return to the court.
Oklahoma City hasn’t given any details on a possible return for Oweh other than him being out for the entire season but if the injury and the history of the Thunder dealing with season ending injuries to their rookies, he will still be around the team throughout the season.
The injury closes the door on Oweh’s rookie season before it officially begins, but it does not determine what he can become. For both the young guard and the Thunder, the priority now is ensuring that this setback becomes a temporary interruption rather than a defining moment.