The former Kentucky big man averaged 16.2 points and 16.2 rebounds per game.
The league’s head coaches and general managers cast votes to determine whose first-year professional made the biggest impact on his team’s regular season success.
Tshiebwe averaged 16.2 points and 16.2 rebounds over 23 games with the Mad Ants this season, posting 27
double-doubles, seven 20-point and 20-rebound games, and eight games with 20 rebounds or more. He finished the season as the NBA G League rebounding champion and set a new league single season rebound record (16.2) in addition to breaking new franchise records for total rebounds (530), defensive rebounds (330), and offensive rebounds (200).
Tshiebwe made his G League debut in the Mad Ants’ 129-114 victory over the Sioux Falls Sky Force, finishing with 33 points and 23 rebounds. He also became the first player in franchise history to record a 30-point, 20-rebound performance. Along with that, he broke the franchise record for rebounds with 28, helping Indiana defeat the Motor City Cruise 117-107.
Tshiebwe was selected for both the NBA G League Next Up Game and the NBA Rising Stars Game. After averaging 3.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in eight games, he was also called up by the Pacers.
Tshiebwe, who filed to enter the 2023 NBA Draft, was not selected, but he did sign a two-way contract with the Pacers, allowing players to play in the NBA and the G League as needed.
Tshiebwe, who is ranked in the top 50 in points (1,117), top 25 in blocks (87), top 30 in thefts (112), and top 10 in rebounds (952), it’s difficult to think of another Kentucky player who did more individually or won over Big Blue Nation more over the course of two seasons.
Tshiebwe, along with Kenny Walker and Chuck Hayes, are the only players in program history with 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 100 steals, and 80 blocks. His 48 double-doubles are tied with Cotton Nash for the second-most ever at UK, behind only Dan Issel’s 64.
In 66 career games with the Wildcats over two seasons, Tshiebwe averaged 16.9 points and 14.4 rebounds en on the way to become the first two-time consensus All-American from Kentucky since Kenny Walker in 1985 and 1986, and only the ninth overall. His 1,117 points rank second in program history for points by a transfer behind only Kyle Macy (1,411) and are the second-highest individual total over any two-year timeframe in school history behind only Bill Spivey (1,213). He leads in rebounds with 952.
Tshiebwe recorded eight games with 20 rebounds, although since the 1970–71 season, the total for all UK players has been seven. Last season, he had the most rebounds of any Wildcat since Mike Phillips in 1976 with 28 against Western Kentucky. This season, he scored the most in an NCAA Tournament game since 1977 with 25 points in a first-round victory over Providence.
Tshiebwe finished the season with three 20–20 games, and his career-high 37 points and 24 rebounds against Georgia was just the school’s fifth 35–20 game and the first by a Wildcat since 1976.
Tshiebwe averaged 21 points and 19.6 rebounds per game across his three NCAA Tournament games. He finished with 63 points and 59 rebounds.
Tshiebwe became the first NCAA Division I player in 42 years to average 15 points and 15 rebounds in 2021–22, finishing second only to Anthony Davis as the school’s second unanimous national player of the year. Tshiebwe averaged 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds.
