American basketball player Semi Ojeleye most recently competed for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
He represented Duke University and Southern Methodist University in college basketball, respectively. The Boston Celtics selected Semi Ojeleye in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft (37th overall).
Ojeleye is regarded among the high IQ players since he rarely makes mistakes and generally does a great job of playing to his strengths and not forcing things. The power forward star never tries to do too much and is a great teammate.
As a recognition for his amicable performance, he was also voted Parade Magazine’s National Player of the Year in 2013.
Within the course of his two NBA seasons, he participated in 129 games for Boston, including 23 playoff contests. He outscored Washington 116-110 for a career-high 17 points in 2019.
Continue reading to learn more about the basketball player. Before getting into details, we will look at the quick facts about him.
Semi Ojeleye: Quick Facts
| Full Name | Jesusemilore Talodabijesu “Semi” Ojeleye |
| Known as | Semi Ojeleye |
| Nickname | Muscle Jesus |
| Birth Date | December 5, 1994 |
| Birth Place | Overland Park, Kansas |
| Residence | Not Available |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Education | Ottawa (Ottawa, Kansas) Duke (2013–2015) SMU (2016–2017) |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Father’s Name | Ernest Ojeleye |
| Mother’s Name | Joy Ojeleye |
| Siblings | Victory Ojeleye |
| Age | 29 years old |
| Height | 6 feet 6 inches |
| Weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Body type | Athletic |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Girlfriend | Not Available |
| Children | None |
| Active since | 2017– present |
| Teams | Boston Celtics Milwaukee Bucks Los Angeles Clippers |
| Endorsements | Not Available |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| NBA Draft Pick | 2017 / Round: 2 / Pick: 37th overall |
| Position | Small Forward and Power Forward |
| League | NBA |
| Merch | Basketball Card |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Last Update | October 2024 |
Early Life & Family
Ojeleye’s full name is Jesusemilore Talodabijesu Ojeleye. The pro-basketball star was born and raised in Kansas, where he attended Ottawa High School (an hour’s drive southwest of Kansas City).
In order for his father, Ernest, to complete a residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center, his parents moved from Nigeria to Kansas.
His older brother Victory played basketball at Kansas State from 2008 to 2011, while his mother, Joy, works as a registered nurse.
Ojeleye’s college basketball career started at Duke under Coach Mike Krzyzewski and continued at Southern Methodist. In addition, he was voted the AAC Player of the Year after averaging 18.9 points, and 6.8 rebounds for the Mustangs; Ojeleye joined the Celtics.
In fact, he was a standout at Ottawa High School and was named the 2013 National Player of the Year by Parade Magazine. Although he played sparingly for two seasons, he attended national power Duke for college.
He transferred to SMU in search of a bigger role. Additionally, in 2016–17 he helped the club win both the regular season and tournament championships of the American Athletic Conference (AAC).
Semi Ojeleye: Exterior Feature
The power forward with exceptional versatility who stands 6’6″ and weighs 240 pounds. In addition, he has good open-court ball-handling skills and can spot up or move when shooting from outside the arc.
Ojeleye is developing a reputation as a defensive standout. Using his combination of strength and mobility, he routinely makes free throws and is a capable shot-creator in the half-court.
Furthermore, Ojeleye possesses a reliable pull-up jumper that he can hit after one or two dribbles. Thus if he is forced off the three-point line, he can also shoot off the dribble.
Similarly, his deadly combination of strength and agility allows him to attack opposing fours off the dribble.
The small/power forward reputation as the NBA’s most powerfully muscled player was undoubtedly helped by the infamous scouting report written by Draft Express in 2017 that alluded to his “heavy, jacked frame.”
Professional Career
Ojeleye registered for the 2017 NBA draft after his redshirt junior season ended. However, he chose not to use an agency, leaving the door open for a return to the Mustangs. One of 67 competitors, Ojeleye, received an invitation to the 2017 NBA Draft Combine.
He stated that he would enter the draft after a few impressive performances, terminating his college career. In addition, the Boston Celtics selected Ojeleye with the 37th overall pick in the second round.
On October 17, 2017, Ojeleye made his debut in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing 102-99.
He averaged 2.7 points per game & shot 34.6 percent from the floor during the regular season, but he also became a defensive force.
Furthermore, against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of their playoff series, he started and limited Giannis Antetokounmpo to 16 points.
Ojeleye agreed to a veteran’s minimum one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks on August 6, 2021. He was part of a four-team deal that included the Los Angeles Clippers on February 10, 2022. He was released on March 26.
Semi Ojeleye: Diet
Since he joined the league, there has been a lot of speculation about how Ojeleye got his muscular build—”Muscles Jesus” is only one of the numerous nicknames he has acquired.
However, the explanation is painfully simple: It’s the result of a workout routine that doesn’t include any days off and extraordinary athleticism.
He typically eats scrambled eggs for breakfast, along with some spinach and ham. Likewise, he receives a bowl of rice and chicken for lunch.
Moreover, salmon with pasta is the way to go before every game because, according to Semi, he eliminated red meat from his diet.
The chef then prepares a ton of meals for Semi, usually of the same flavor. Pasta, chicken or fish, and then veggies.
Additionally, he treats Red Velvet Cheesecake as a cheat meal, which is reasonable given the amount of effort he puts into maintaining his physique.
Semi Ojeleye: Personal Life
Semi Ojeleye is single at the moment and following his career goals. Due to his dedication to professional basketball, he has received a lot of awards and medals.
Moreover, Semi seems to be far too preoccupied with his career to think about relationships. Despite his impressive qualifications, he seems to be single and totally committed to his games.
Undoubtedly, the incredible athlete might have crushes on him due to his good looks. Nevertheless, if he discloses any further intimate information about his love life, we’ll update this section.
Net Worth
According to sources, Semi Ojeleye has a net worth of around $2 million. He signed a four-year deal worth $6,041,604 with a $2,670,134 salary guaranteed.
He received $1,378,242 from his studies in 2018–19. The top players in the league earn about $35 million a year. In addition, minor league teams may receive yearly payments of as little as $20,000 outside of the NBA.
Additionally, Semi Ojeleye has appeared in several ads. Likewise, he is rewarded extra as he already has the majority of the goods advertised on his shirt.
Charity Works
The 2019 Community Champion Award was given to Semi Ojeleye in recognition of his contributions to a neighborhood charity.
The Boston Celtics raised more than $1.2 million for local organizations during their 15th annual Shamrock Foundation Tip-Off Gala in Boston.
Furthermore, in their remodeled art studio, students at the Wright Science and Technology Academy in Chelsea, Massachusetts, discovered their artistic side.
The remodeling endeavor was a component of an ongoing collaboration between ALEX AND ANI | CHARITY BY DESIGN (CBD) & the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, of which Semi was also a member.
The Shamrock Foundation’s collaboration with CBD enabled the refurbishment of a sixth art studio. Additionally, the initiatives designed to assist the arts in public school districts have in the past been awarded to schools in Rhode Island and the greater Boston area.
Social Media Presence
Semi Ojeleye is active on various social media platforms. It is apparent from his social media that he believes in god profoundly.
Ojeleye quotes Mark 11:22, which reads, “Have faith in God,’ Jesus said, in his Twitter bio, along with the statement, “Lord, give me the grace to be the man of God that You made me be.”
Follow Ojeleye on his social media accounts;
Instagram– 109k followers
Twitter– 33.5k followers
Awards & Achievements
- AP Honorable Mention All-American (2017)
- First-team All-AAC (2017)
- AAC Player of the Year (2017)
- AAC Tournament MVP (2017)
- First-team Parade All-American (2013)
FAQs
How Good is Semi Ojeleye?
Semi Ojeleye is an exceptional athlete who can finish above the rim when he gains speed. He uses this skill most often on the offensive glass. In addition, he has a great energy to chase down the ball and frequently converts missed attempts into thundering putbacks.
What Team Semi Ojeleye Plays for?
Ojeleye currently plays for the NBA team Boston Celtics. The small/power forward has also played for other teams like Milwaukee Bucks(2021-2022) and Los Angeles Clippers(2022).
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