Thunder Rookie Otega Oweh Out for Season After Ruptured Achilles

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Otega Oweh will miss the entire 2026-27 season after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon. The Thunder confirmed the diagnosis and procedure one day after Oweh suffered the non-contact injury during overtime of Oklahoma City’s preseason win over the Indiana Pacers. The procedure was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York with Thunder medical personnel present.

The setback ends Oweh’s rookie season before the regular season begins. Oklahoma City acquired the former Kentucky guard after he was selected No. 41 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft and signed him to a two-way contract. Oweh had shown flashes during the preseason, including eight points and three rebounds in 15 minutes against Indiana before the injury.

For Oweh, the focus now shifts entirely to rehabilitation and preserving the long-term promise that made him an NBA draft pick. For Oklahoma City, the injury removes one developmental guard from an already deep backcourt rather than changing the championship rotation immediately. Still, losing a rookie for an entire season before his first official NBA game is a difficult start to a professional career, and the Thunder will now have to decide how to manage his two-way roster spot while he recovers.