Age: 24
Years Pro: 4
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Key Stats: Averaged 6.1 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game over 16.7 minutes per game across 65 games played. Shot 38.6 percent from the field and 31 percent from 3-point range.
No matter the situation, whether on the bench or the hardwood, Oshae Brissett always brought positive energy and maximum effort to the team during the Indiana Pacers’ 2022-2023 season.
Brissett battled for minutes on a young Pacers roster that experimented with dozens of lineups.
In his third season with the Blue & Gold, the 6-foot-7, 210-pound Canadian found himself in and out of the rotation during the season.
Brissett, 24, played at both forward positions in a reserve role, but started two games while appearing in 65 and averaging 16.7 minutes. On March 22 in Toronto, he joined rookies Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin in the starting lineup to mark the first time three players from Canada started together on the same team in an NBA game.
GALLERY: Oshae Brissett's 2022-23 Season in Photos >>
Compared to the 2021-2022 season, Brissett’s numbers shrank in several areas, most notably by almost seven minutes per game on the floor. Brissett averaged lows in points, rebounds, field goal and 3-point percentages, and shot attempts compared to his previous two seasons with the Blue & Gold.
Notably, Brissett scored a season-high 18 points against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 19 and recorded his lone double-double on Jan. 13 against the Atlanta Hawks with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a season-high 31 minutes.
Brissett was seeing a decent amount of action until the Pacers acquired Jordan Nwora, who provided a big boost off the bench in the scoring department, before the trade deadline. At one point, Brissett didn’t play in six straight games in February.
The Syracuse University product consistently returned to the lineup after that stretch of absences and averaged just under 19 minutes per game in March and April.
“Myself, I feel like I accept any role I’m given,” Brissett said. “I love to play and love being out there. When I was out there, I felt like I gave it my all.”
Brissett’s future as a Pacer is uncertain. Either he can ink an extension with the Blue & Gold before June 30 or become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Just five players from last season’s roster are free agents heading into the summer, with Brissett joining Kendall Brown (restricted), George Hill, James Johnson and Gabe York.
In the offseason, Brissett said he plans to continue to work on his individual defense, among other areas, and feels like the team will continue to grow closer.
In his final interview of the season, Brissett said he hopes to stay in the Circle City.
“Indiana’s been home the past three years," Brissett said. "Without them, it would have been a lot tougher to be in the league. Being back here would definitely be a dream.”
During his postseason press conference, Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said he wants to take his time with all of the free agents and have one-on-one conversations with each of them before any decisions are made.
2023 Pacers.com Player Review Schedule
April 17: Tyrese Haliburton
April 18: Myles Turner
April 19: Andrew Nembhard
April 20: Jordan Nwora
April 21: Aaron Nesmith
April 22: Isaiah Jackson
April 23: James Johnson
April 24: Bennedict Mathurin
April 25: T.J. McConnell
April 26: Oshae Brissett
April 27: Chris Duarte
April 28: Jalen Smith
April 29: Gabe York
April 30: Kendall Brown
May 1: George Hill
May 2: Daniel Theis
May 3: Buddy Hield