Khem Birch facts for kids
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Birch with Fenerbahçe Beko in 2025
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| No. 92 – Fenerbahçe | |
|---|---|
| Centre | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 28, 1992 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 233 lb (106 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 2014 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2014–present |
| League | Basketbol Süper Ligi EuroLeague |
| Career history | |
| 2014–2015 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| 2015–2016 | Uşak Sportif |
| 2016–2017 | Olympiacos |
| 2017–2021 | Orlando Magic |
| 2017–2018 | Lakeland Magic |
| 2021–2023 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2024 | Girona |
| 2024–present | Fenerbahçe |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Khem Xavier Birch (born September 28, 1992) is a Canadian professional basketball player. He plays as a centre for Fenerbahçe in Turkey. This team competes in the BSL and the EuroLeague. Khem also played college basketball for the Pittsburgh Panthers and the UNLV Runnin' Rebels.
Contents
High School Basketball Journey
Khem Birch started his high school basketball career in Canada. He played for St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School. Later, he moved to the United States to finish high school. He played at The Winchendon School and Notre Dame Prep.
College Basketball Years
In 2011, Khem began playing college basketball at the University of Pittsburgh. He played for the Pittsburgh Panthers for one season. In 2012, he transferred to UNLV. There, he joined the UNLV Runnin' Rebels.
During his junior year (2013–14), Khem was excellent at rebounding. He grabbed 10.2 rebounds per game, which was third-best in his conference. He also blocked many shots, averaging 3.8 blocks per game. Overall in college, he averaged 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. In April 2014, he decided to enter the NBA draft. This meant he would not play his final year of college basketball.
College Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 † | Pittsburgh | 10 | 6 | 15.0 | .571 | – | .545 | 5.0 | .0 | .2 | 1.9 | 4.4 |
| 2012–13 | UNLV | 26 | 15 | 21.8 | .563 | – | .642 | 5.7 | .6 | .7 | 2.6 | 7.2 |
| 2013–14 | UNLV | 33 | 32 | 31.4 | .510 | – | .693 | 10.2 | 1.2 | .6 | 3.8 | 11.5 |
| Career | 69 | 53 | 25.4 | .531 | – | .668 | 7.8 | .8 | .6 | 3.1 | 8.9 | |
Professional Basketball Career
Khem Birch started his professional career in 2014. He has played for several teams in different leagues.
Starting with Sioux Falls Skyforce
After the 2014 NBA draft, Khem joined the Washington Wizards for the Summer League. He then signed with the Miami Heat but was later waived. On November 3, 2014, he joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce. This team is part of the NBA's development league. He was named to the All-Star team in 2015.
Playing in Turkey with Uşak Sportif
In June 2015, Khem signed to play in Turkey. He joined Uşak Sportif in the Turkish Super League. He played with them during the 2015–16 season. He averaged 10.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
Time in Greece with Olympiacos
On June 14, 2016, Khem moved to Greece. He signed a two-year contract with Olympiacos, who were Greek champions. With Olympiacos, he played in the EuroLeague. He helped his team reach the 2017 EuroLeague Final Four. In July 2017, Khem decided to leave Olympiacos to play in the NBA.
NBA with Orlando Magic
On July 27, 2017, Khem signed with the Orlando Magic. He played for them for several seasons. On March 14, 2019, he had a great game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. He re-signed with the Magic in July 2019. On March 26, 2021, Khem had his best game yet. He scored 14 points, got 15 rebounds, and made four steals. The Magic waived him on April 8, 2021.
Joining the Toronto Raptors
On April 10, 2021, Khem signed with the Toronto Raptors. He made his debut the very next day. Just three days later, he tied his career-high with 14 points. On April 29, he scored a new career-high of 20 points. He also had nine rebounds in that game. In August 2021, Khem re-signed with the Raptors for three more years.
On February 9, 2023, Khem was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. He was later waived by the Spurs in October.
Back to Europe: Spain and Turkey
On February 5, 2024, Khem signed with Bàsquet Girona in Spain. He played in the Spanish Liga ACB. On September 11, 2024, he signed a one-year deal with Fenerbahçe in Turkey.
Khem had a fantastic season with Fenerbahçe in 2025. On May 25, 2025, he helped Fenerbahçe win their second EuroLeague championship in Abu Dhabi. He also led Fenerbahçe to win the Turkish League championship. He was named the Turkish League Finals MVP for the 2024-25 season.
Playing for Canada
Khem Birch has proudly represented his home country, Canada, in basketball. He played for Canada's Under-18 junior national team. With them, he won a bronze medal at the 2010 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship. He is also a key member of the senior Canadian national team. He played in the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Khem also represented Canada at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China. He was part of Canada's team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Personal Life
Khem Birch has three brothers. He grew up as a big fan of the Toronto Raptors. He used to watch their games on TV and even drove five hours with his dad to see a live game. Khem has been married since 2018 and has a daughter born in 2019.
See also
In Spanish: Khem Birch para niños
