Pitt’s Zack Austin Signs Contract with Oklahoma Thunder

One day after the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Draft, Pitt’s Zack Austin is getting an opportunity with the best team in league.

Jon Chepkevich of the DraftExpress.com is reporting that Austin has signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

An Exhibit 10 deal is basically a one-year non-guaranteed minimum contract that brings you in for training camp. The typical course of action is that if the player doesn’t make the NBA roster or get converted to a two-way contract, they get cut and paid out an agreed upon bonus (believed to be up to $75,000) if they continue forth with the team’s G League affiliate for at least 60 days.

Last season with Pitt, Austin averaged 9.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and a team-best 1.6 blocks per game. Austin also showed his range by leading the Panthers in three-point field goals made (56), shooting 38.1% from the field.

Pittsburgh Panthers forward Zack Austin (55) January 16, 2024 David Hague/PSN

Austin finished his collegiate career (Pitt and High Point) with 1,408 points, 710 rebounds, 230 blocks and 213 three-pointers in 128 games. According to the Pitt media relations department, Austin joined Shane Battier (Duke) and Jake Stephens (VMI, Chattanooga) as the only players in NCAA history to collect at least 1,400 points, 700 rebounds, 200 three-point field goals and 200 blocks in a career.

Austin was selected to the 2025 ACC All-Defensive Team and was also a finalist for the CollegeInsider.com Lefty Driesell Award, present annually to the top defensive player in Division 1 basketball.