At the trade deadline, the Indiana Pacers finally hit the reset button. After years spent stuck in mediocracy (and being seemingly content with it), a roster overhaul was long overdue.
Now, the team is filled with exciting young talent. Tyrese Haliburton, who Indiana received in return for Domantas Sabonis, is a fantastic core piece for the rebuild. Myles Turner, one of the league’s premier shot-blockers, is only 25. Chris Duarte is a rookie who scores like a long-time pro. Bench Mob All-Star Duane Washington Jr. is a three-point sniper. Former number ten pick Jalen Smith has shushed those who called him a bust after his lackluster rookie campaign. 6’5” two-way contract rookie Terry Taylor is a maniac on the glass. Isaiah Jackson is a talented young big.
Out of that fun collection of young ballers, my favorite is third-year forward Oshae Brissett. After spending his rookie year in Toronto, Oshae’s tenure with Indiana began on two ten-day contracts last season. He showed out and earned a multi-year deal.
The first couple of months of this season were inconsistent for Oshae. He didn’t always see the court (he played just six minutes per game across six contests in November), and when he did play his performance was just as up-and-down as his role.
Lately, he’s turned things around. He’s started all 14 games since the All-Star break and has blossomed in the bigger role. He’s averaging 11.7 points and 6.6 rebounds on 53% TS after the hiatus, and with his 24 point, 9 rebound performance on March 30th he earned his league-leading sixth Bench Mob Player of the Day award (passing Herb Jones and Gabe Vincent).
Despite his quality play, there’s a chance you’ve never heard of Oshae. He’s an undrafted guy playing for a team the average fan doesn’t care about. So what does he do well, and why is he leading the league in BM POTDs? Oshae is an all-around role player who would fit seamlessly into any lineup.
He can throw down highlight dunks but is also a strong finisher when driving.
He’s also a smart cutter.
He can hit the three-ball at a decent rate. He’s shooting 33% overall on the season, and he’s connected on 40% of his treys in Pacers victories.
He’s a solid rebounder, corraling 5.1 (1.6 offensive) misses per game.
He can also get you some stocks, accumulating 2.3 total steals and blocks per 100 possessions. He swiped a career-high 5 steals against the Warriors in December.
Although he doesn’t excel in one area, Oshae is a complete player. He does a bit of everything, and every team in the association would love to have a guy like that on their roster. His under-the-radar well-rounded contributions are why Oshae Brissett is a Bench Mob superstar.
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