NBA
KO
#12

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Forward · Indiana Pacers · 6'8", 210 lb · Born Dec 9, 1995 · New Orleans, Louisiana · Drafted 15th overall, 2015
10-year veteran🌊 Tsunami PapiAthletic wingScoring & defense
NBAIndiana PacersForwards
Compare:vs Nesmithvs Nembhardvs Mathurinvs Walkervs Huffvs Siakam
In short

Kelly Oubre Jr. is a 10-year veteran athletic scoring wing who joined the Indiana Pacers — a long, versatile 'Tsunami Papi' who scores and defends on the wing. Drafted 15th in 2015, the New Orleans native and Hurricane Katrina survivor built his career across Washington, Phoenix, Golden State, Charlotte, and Philadelphia before signing with Indiana.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceTue, Nov 10
vsLA ClippersDrop coverage
Proj. points
14
range 11.3–16.7
Line 14
50%
to go over
Team win
63%
114–111
Poi 14 Lean underReb 5 Lean underAss 1.6 Lean overPRA 20.6 Lean over
Likely on himKris Dunn· 86 Perimeter DStrong defender
10+ pts91%15+ pts37%

Model lines Jr. at 14 pts (range 11.3–16.7) vs a 14 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (50%).

Biggest edge: scheme fit — drop coverage concedes the pull-up/mid-range he likes.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Jr.
The Jr. Story — narrated
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An athletic veteran scoring wing — 'Tsunami Papi,' scoring and perimeter defense for the Pacers.

A Katrina survivor and Kansas one-and-done, Oubre was drafted 15th in 2015 and traded to Washington.

🏫 Kansas · 15th, 2015New Orleans

He built a decade-long career across Washington, Phoenix, Golden State, Charlotte, and Philadelphia.

10-year vet5 teams

He averaged nearly 15 a game in Philadelphia before signing with Indiana.

14.9 ppg (PHI)Joined IND

A long, athletic wing, he gives the Pacers scoring and defense off the perimeter.

🌊 Tsunami PapiWing depth
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
14.1
2025-26
RPG
5
per game
APG
1.6
per game
FG%
.467
.360 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

An athletic veteran scoring wing — 'Tsunami Papi,' scoring and perimeter defense for the Pacers.

Kelly Oubre Jr. was born in New Orleans and, after his family relocated to Texas following Hurricane Katrina, became a McDonald's All-American and one-and-done at Kansas. Atlanta drafted him 15th in 2015 and traded him to Washington, launching a decade-long career across Washington, Phoenix, Golden State, Charlotte, and Philadelphia.

A long, athletic scoring wing who averaged nearly 15 points a game in Philadelphia, he signed a free-agent deal with Indiana in 2026. Nicknamed 'Tsunami Papi' for his flashy, emotional style, he gives the Pacers a veteran wing who scores and defends on the perimeter.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Oubre's story is one of resilience — born in New Orleans and displaced to Texas by Hurricane Katrina as a child, he channeled that upheaval into a fiery, expressive playing persona. He created the 'Valley Boyz' merchandise brand in Phoenix, directing initial proceeds to hurricane relief, and remains one of the league's most charismatic wings.

His on-court identity is athletic scoring and perimeter defense — a long 6-foot-8 wing who slashes to the rim, shoots from range (streakily), and defends multiple positions. His three-point efficiency has swung over his career, but his athleticism, scoring pop, and defensive length give a contending Indiana team veteran wing depth on a short-term deal.

PERSONALITY

The person

A charismatic, athletic scoring wing — slashing, streaky shooting, and perimeter defense.

Athletic scorerA long wing who slashes to the rim and scores in bunches.
Perimeter defenderUses length and athleticism to guard multiple positions.
CharismaticThe flashy, emotional 'Tsunami Papi.'
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Scoring Wing · Athlete
Temperament
Spark
Leadership
58/100
Scoring64
Playmaking39
Rebounding62
Perimeter D72
Rim protection46
Spacing64
Athleticism70
Clutch64
an athletic scoring wing signed from Philadelphia
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Athletic scoring and defense

Oubre's value is athletic wing play — a long 6-foot-8 scorer who slashes to the rim, shoots from range, and defends multiple positions with his length, having averaged nearly 15 a game in Philadelphia. That combination of scoring pop and perimeter defense gives a contender useful veteran wing depth.

Efficiency the swing factor

The historical knock is consistency — his three-point shooting and shot selection have swung over his career. But on a short-term deal for an Indiana team that needs wing scoring and defense (especially with Haliburton out), his athleticism, length, and veteran scoring are real assets in a complementary role. Accepting that role is the key to his fit.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-265031.514.15.01.6.467.360

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

CareerA 10-year veteran across Washington, Phoenix, Golden State, Charlotte, and Philadelphia
PhiladelphiaAveraged 14.9 points a game over parts of three seasons
2026Signed a free-agent deal with the Indiana Pacers

Hardware

15th
Draft pick (2015)
40
Career-high points
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

An athletic veteran scoring wing — scoring pop and perimeter defense for Indiana.

Oubre gives Indiana veteran wing depth — an athletic 6-foot-8 scorer and perimeter defender on a short-term deal. His shooting efficiency has swung over his career, but his athleticism, length, and scoring are real assets in a complementary role, especially valuable with Haliburton sidelined.

ScoringStrong
AthleticismStrong
Perimeter defenseGood
EfficiencyStreaky

Contract

Role
Scoring wing veteran depth
Path
5 teams 10-yr vet
Age
30 veteran
Bottom line

A charismatic, athletic veteran scoring wing — 'Tsunami Papi' brings scoring pop and perimeter defense off the wing, useful complementary depth for Indiana on a short-term deal.

FAQ

Quick answers

Why is Kelly Oubre Jr. called 'Tsunami Papi'?

For his flashy, emotional, high-energy playing style — a persona he leaned into during his career.

What does Kelly Oubre Jr. bring to the Pacers?

Veteran athletic wing play — a long 6-foot-8 scorer and perimeter defender who slashes, shoots, and guards multiple positions.

What is Kelly Oubre Jr.'s background?

A New Orleans native and Hurricane Katrina survivor whose family relocated to Texas; he became a McDonald's All-American and Kansas one-and-done before a decade-long NBA career.