Otega Oweh, the younger brother of Washington Commanders defensive end Odafe Oweh, was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the No. 41 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. The Thunder traded down from No. 37 with the Miami Heat, then c
On a night when the Oklahoma City Thunder were shaping their future through the 2026 NBA Draft, it also landed a new kind of spotlight back home for the Oweh family.
Washington Commanders defensive end Odafe Oweh now has another professional athlete in the family. His younger brother, Otega Oweh, was selected by the Thunder with the No. 41 overall pick in the second round on Wednesday night.
The path to that pick wasn’t straightforward. Oklahoma City acquired the No. 41 selection after trading down from No. 37. The Thunder sent the original pick to the Miami Heat in exchange for No. 41 and cash considerations. Miami later used the No. 37 selection on Louisville guard Ryan Conwell.
Otega Oweh enters the NBA after a four-year college career that included two seasons at Oklahoma and two at Kentucky. The 6-foot-5. 216-pound guard ended his senior season with the Wildcats averaging 18.6 points. 4.8 rebounds. 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. Over 36 games, he also produced 2.1 combined steals and blocks per contest and converted 73.1% of his free throws.
Before Kentucky, Oweh built his reputation with the Sooners. As a sophomore in 2023-24, he averaged 11.4 points per game before transferring to Lexington. His first season under head coach Mark Pope produced 16.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, earning All-SEC Second Team recognition. He followed that with another All-SEC Second Team selection as a senior after leading the Wildcats with 18.6 points per game.
Kentucky’s run with Otega Oweh also came with historical output. He scored 1. 255 points during his two seasons with the Wildcats. the highest ever recorded by a player in his first two years at the school. During SEC play in 2025-26, he raised his offensive output further, averaging 21.1 points per game against conference opponents.
One moment from his final college season already lives in tournament highlights. In the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Otega Oweh hit a game-tying half-court shot at the buzzer against Santa Clara.
The Thunder also get a player with measurable tools for the perimeter. Oweh is reported to have a 6-foot-8.25 wingspan and an 8-foot-5 standing reach. physical traits that helped him become an effective perimeter defender. In his college work, he held isolation matchups to 27% shooting, navigated screens effectively and consistently generated turnovers with active hands. Offensively. he attacked the rim with efficiency. finishing 61% of his attempts at the basket and producing 1.313 points per possession in transition.
Oklahoma City’s draft class didn’t start with Otega Oweh, either. The Thunder selected Michigan center Aday Mara at No. 12 and Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz at No. 16 in the first round before landing Oweh at No. 41.
Given the way Oklahoma City’s roster is shaped. Otega Oweh is widely projected to begin his professional career on a two-way contract. Even so. he joins an organization known for developing second-round selections and young talent. giving the former Kentucky standout an opening to grow his role over time.
Otega Oweh Odafe Oweh Washington Commanders Oklahoma City Thunder 2026 NBA Draft No. 41 pick Miami Heat Ryan Conwell Kentucky Wildcats NCAA Tournament