The Rockets have signed free agent big man Oscar Tshiebwe, the team announced today in a press release. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but it seems likely to be a non-guaranteed contract, given Houston’s cap and roster situations.

Tshiebwe, 26, has appeared in 49 regular season games for the Pacers and Jazz since going undrafted out of Kentucky in 2023. The 6’8″ forward/center has averaged 7.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game as a pro, including 7.8 PPG and 6.6 RPG in 27 outings for Utah while on a two-way contract last season.

Known for his rebounding ability, Tshiebwe has put up monster numbers at the G League level, averaging more rebounds (17.3) than points (15.4) per game over the course of 64 NBAGL appearances for the Salt Lake City Stars, Utah’s affiliate, during the past two seasons.

In the last two NBA regular season games of 2025/26, Tshiebwe got a chance to play significant minutes for the Jazz and averaged 22.5 PPG and 19.5 RPG in 30.0 MPG. That included 22 total boards in just 28 minutes of action on April 10 vs. Memphis and nine offensive rebounds against the Lakers on April 12.

As effective as he is at controlling the glass, Tshiebwe hasn’t shown enough positives in other areas to earn a regular role at the NBA level to this point in his career. It’s unclear whether he’ll get the opportunity to earn a regular season roster spot in Houston, either on a standard or two-way deal — if he signed an Exhibit 10 contract, it could be converted into a two-way before opening night.

After re-signing Isaiah Crawford and Jae’Sean Tate earlier this week, Houston was operating a little over the luxury tax line with 15 players on standard contracts coming into Friday. If Crawford and Tate make the regular season roster and the Rockets want to duck back out of the tax, JD Davison and Tshiebwe would be the likely odd men out, but it’s possible the club will hold a competition for the 14th roster spot in training camp and the preseason.