Khem Xavier Birch (born September 28, 1992) is a Canadian professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

player for the

San Antonio Spurs The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference Southwest Division ( ...

of the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United S ...

(NBA). He played

college basketball In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...

for the

Pittsburgh Panthers The Pittsburgh Panthers, commonly also referred to as the Pitt Panthers, are the athletic teams representing the University of Pittsburgh, although the term is colloquially used to refer to other aspects of the university such as alumni, facu ...

and the

UNLV Runnin' Rebels The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are the men's basketball team that represent the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in the Mountain West Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); it plays at the Thomas & Mack Center on campus. As ...

High school career

Birch played varsity basketball for St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School in

Russell, Ontario The Township of Russell is a municipal township, located south-east of Canada's capital of Ottawa in eastern Ontario, in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, on the Castor River. The township had a population of 16,520 in the 2016 Cana ...

before playing out the remainder of his high school career at

The Winchendon School The Winchendon School is an elite, coeducational, preparatory boarding and day school composed of two campuses; one in Massachusetts, and another in Herald Square, Manhattan, New York. Founded in 1926, The Winchendon School has an average class ...

Winchendon, Massachusetts Winchendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,364 at the 2020 census. The town includes the villages of Waterville and Winchendon Springs (also known as Spring Village). A census-designated place, ...

and Notre Dame Prep in

Fitchburg, Massachusetts Fitchburg is a city in northern Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The third-largest city in the county, its population was 41,946 at the 2020 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private e ...

College career

In 2011–12, Birch played

at the

University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a public state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The university is composed of 17 undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges at its urban Pittsburgh campus, home to the universit ...

, with the

. He then, in 2012, transferred to

UNLV The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public land-grant research university in Paradise, Nevada. The campus is about east of the Las Vegas Strip. It was formerly part of the University of Nevada from 1957 to 1969. It includes the S ...

, where he played with the

. As a junior, in the 2013–14 season, he averaged 10.2 rebounds per game, which was the third highest in the

Mountain West Conference The Mountain West Conference (MW) is one of the collegiate athletic conferences affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) (formerly I-A). The MW officially began operations o ...

, while also averaging 3.8 blocks per game, which was the second highest in the Mountain West Conference. During his college career, he averaged 8.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists in 25.4 minutes per game in 69 games. In April 2014, he entered the NBA draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility.

Professional career

Sioux Falls Skyforce (2014–2015)

After going undrafted in the

2014 NBA draft The 2014 NBA draft was held on June 26, 2014, at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. ...

, Birch joined the

Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast D ...

for the

2014 NBA Summer League The 2014 NBA Summer League consists of two pro basketball leagues organized by the NBA and the Orlando Magic just after the 2014 NBA Draft. Ten teams took part in the week-long summer league at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, from July 5 t ...

. On September 14, 2014, he signed with his first NBA team, the

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Southe ...

. However, he was later waived by the Heat on October 25, 2014. On November 3, 2014, he was acquired by the

Sioux Falls Skyforce The Sioux Falls Skyforce are an American professional basketball team of the NBA G League based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and are affiliated with the Miami Heat. The team plays their home games in the Sanford Pentagon, a place they have call ...

, as an affiliate player. On February 4, 2015, he was named to the Futures All-Star team for the 2015

NBA D-League All-Star Game The NBA D-League All-Star Game was an annual exhibition basketball game held by the NBA Development League (D-League). The D-League was founded in 2001 as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) and later as the NBA Development League. ...

. In the 2014–15 NBD-D League season, he averaged 11.1 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game, 1.8 blocks per game, and 0.7 steals per game, in 52 games played.

Uşak Sportif (2015–2016)

On June 30, 2015, Birch signed to play in Turkey, with

Uşak Sportif Uşak Sportif, also known as Uşak Üniversitesi Belediyespor, was a professional basketball team that is based in the city of Uşak, in Turkey. The team was founded in 2006. Their home arena was the Uşak Üniversitesi Sport Hall, which has a se ...

of the

Turkish Super League Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

(BSL). The following month, he joined the

Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The t ...

for the 2015 Orlando Summer League and the

New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division and play their hom ...

for the 2015 Las Vegas Summer League. He went on to play with Uşak during the 2015–16 season, and he averaged 27.0 minutes, 10.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 0.5 steals per game, in 32 games played in the Turkish Super League 2015–16 season.

Olympiacos (2016–2017)

On June 14, 2016, Birch signed to play in Greece, on a 2-year

€ The euro sign () is the currency sign used for the euro, the official currency of the eurozone and unilaterally adopted by Kosovo and Montenegro. The design was presented to the public by the European Commission on 12 December 1996. It consists ...

1.1 million

net income In business and accounting, net income (also total comprehensive income, net earnings, net profit, bottom line, sales profit, or credit sales) is an entity's income minus cost of goods sold, expenses, depreciation and amortization, interest, a ...

contract, with the defending

Greek Basket League The Greek Basket League (GBL), often also referred to as the Greek A1 Basketball League, or Greek Basketball Championship (originally called Panhellenic Basketball Championship), and also known as the Stoiximan Basket League for sponsorship reaso ...

champions,

Olympiacos Olympiacós Sýndesmos Filáthlon Peiraiós ( el, Ολυμπιακός Σύνδεσμος Φιλάθλων Πειραιώς, Olympic Club of Fans of Piraeus) is a major multi-sport club based in Piraeus, Greece. Olympiacos is parent to a number ...

. With Olympiacos, he averaged 15.7 minutes, 5.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 0.6 steals per game, in 33 games played in the

2016–17 season. He also averaged 18.1 minutes, 7.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 0.5 steals per game, in 37 games played in the EuroLeague 2016–17 season. On July 10, 2017, Birch opted out of his contract with Olympiacos, in order to sign in the NBA.

Orlando Magic (2017–2021)

On July 27, 2017, Birch signed with the

Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The franchise was establ ...

. On March 14, 2019, Birch recorded a double-double, tying his career-high with 13 points, 11 rebounds, one assist, and two steals in a 120–91 win against the

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers (often referred to as the Cavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Ea ...

. On July 10, 2019, Birch re-signed with the Magic on a 2-year contract. On March 26, 2021, Birch had his best game of his career when he netted new career-highs with 14 points, 15 rebounds and four steals with four assists and two blocks in a 112–105 loss to the

Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Con ...

. On April 8, 2021, Birch was waived by the Magic.

Toronto Raptors (2021–2023)

On April 10, 2021, Birch signed with the

Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games a ...

for the remainder of the 2020-21 season. On April 11, 2021, Birch made his debut with the Raptors, getting four points and five rebounds in 18 minutes of action during a 102–96 loss to the

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Associat ...

. On April 14, 2021, Birch tied his career-high with 14 points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks in a 117–112 win against the

. On April 26, 2021, Birch tied his career-high again with 14 points, six rebounds, one assist, two steals and two blocks in a 112–96 win against the

. The next day, Birch had his first double-double with the Raptors, getting 13 points and 14 rebounds, nine of which were offensive rebounds, in a 116–103 loss against the

. On April 29, 2021, Birch scored a career-high 20 points, making a career-high two three-pointers while adding nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in a 121–111 loss to the

Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. The team was founded as the D ...

. On August 6, 2021, Birch re-signed with the Raptors for 3 years and just over $20 million, keeping him with the team through the 2023–24 season.

San Antonio Spurs (2023–present)

On February 9, 2023, Birch was traded, alongside a 2024 first-round pick and two future second-round picks, to the

in exchange for

Jakob Poeltl Jakob may refer to: People * Jakob (given name), including a list of people with the name * Jakob (surname), including a list of people with the name Other * Jakob (band), a New Zealand band, and the title of their 1999 EP * Max Jakob Memoria ...

Canadian national team

Birch was a member of the junior national teams of Canada. With Canada's Under-18 junior national team, he played at the 2010

FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship The FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship is the Americas basketball championship for players under 18 years that take place every two years among national teams of the FIBA Americas zone. Before the 2006 edition, the tournament was played by unde ...

, where he won a bronze medal. He is also a member of the senior men's Canadian national team. With Canada's senior national team, he played at the 2016 Manila FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Birch represented Canada at the

2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup was the 18th tournament of the FIBA Basketball World Cup for men's national basketball teams. The tournament was hosted in China and was rescheduled from 2018 to 2019, becoming the first since 1967 FIBA World Ch ...

in China.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

, - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Orlando Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures rele ...

, 42 , , 0 , , 13.8 , , .540 , , – , , .689 , , 4.3 , , .8 , , .4 , , .5 , , 4.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 50 , , 1 , , 12.9 , , .603 , , .000 , , .699 , , 3.8 , , .8 , , .4 , , .6 , , 4.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 48 , , 24 , , 19.2 , , .510 , , .000 , , .653 , , 4.6 , , 1.0 , , .4 , , .5 , , 4.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 48 , , 5 , , 19.8 , , .450 , , .190 , , .741 , , 5.1 , , 1.1 , , .7 , , .6 , , 5.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

, 19 , , 17 , , 30.4 , , .556 , , .290 , , .636 , , 7.6 , , 1.9 , , .8 , , 1.2 , , 11.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 55 , , 28 , , 18.0 , , .485 , , .000 , , .746 , , 4.3 , , 1.1 , , .5 , , .5 , , 4.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 20 , , 0 , , 8.1 , , .594 , , .500 , , .800 , , 1.3 , , .4 , , .3 , , .3 , , 2.2 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 282 , , 75 , , 17.1 , , .520 , , .200 , , .698 , , 4.4 , , 1.0 , , .5 , , .5 , , 5.0

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;",

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 5 , , 0 , , 18.4 , , .556 , , — , , .857 , , 6.2 , , .8 , , .2 , , 1.0 , , 5.2 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

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, 5 , , 0 , , 17.8 , , .500 , , — , , .909 , , 5.0 , , 1.4 , , .2 , , .0 , , 4.8 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2022 File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...

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, 6 , , 4 , , 10.5 , , .500 , , .500 , , — , , 1.5 , , .5 , , .2 , , .2 , , 3.0 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 16 , , 4 , , 15.3 , , .521 , , .500 , , .889 , , 4.1 , , .9 , , .2 , , .4 , , 4.3

EuroLeague

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2016–17 , style="text-align:left;",

, 37 , , 21 , , 18.1 , , .624 , , – , , .643 , , 5.6 , , .3 , , .5 , , 1.0 , , 7.3 , , 10.8 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 37 , , 21 , , 18.1 , , .624 , , – , , .643 , , 5.6 , , .3 , , .5 , , 1.0 , , 7.3 , , 10.8

College

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2011–12 , style="text-align:left;",

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

, 10 , , 6 , , 15.0 , , .571 , , – , , .545 , , 5.0 , , .0 , , .2 , , 1.9 , , 4.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2012–13 , style="text-align:left;",

, 26 , , 15 , , 21.8 , , .563 , , – , , .642 , , 5.7 , , .6 , , .7 , , 2.6 , , 7.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2013–14 , style="text-align:left;",

, 33 , , 32 , , 31.4 , , .510 , , – , , .693 , , 10.2 , , 1.2 , , .6 , , 3.8 , , 11.5 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 69 , , 53 , , 25.4 , , .531 , , – , , .668 , , 7.8 , , .8 , , .6 , , 3.1 , , 8.9

Personal life

Birch was born in Montreal on September 28, 1992. He has three brothers. He later attended high school at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School in

. Birch grew up a fan of the Toronto Raptors, watching their games on television and even driving five hours with his father to Toronto to watch a live game at the

Air Canada Centre Scotiabank Arena ( French: ''Aréna Scotiabank)'', formerly known as Air Canada Centre (ACC), is a multi-purposed arena located on Bay Street in the South Core district of Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the home of the Toronto Rap ...

. He has been married since 2018 and has a daughter born in 2019.

References

External links

Twitter

Euroleague.net profileEurobasket.com ProfileGreek League profile

Greek League profile

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birch, Khem 1992 births Living people 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup players Anglophone Quebec people Basketball players from Montreal Black Canadian basketball players Canadian expatriate basketball people in the United States Canadian men's basketball players Centers (basketball) Lakeland Magic players McDonald's High School All-Americans National Basketball Association players from Canada Olympiacos B.C. players Orlando Magic players People from Russell, Ontario Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball players Power forwards (basketball) Sioux Falls Skyforce players Toronto Raptors players Undrafted National Basketball Association players UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball players Uşak Sportif players