.jpg) Birch withFenerbahçe Beko in 2025 | |
| No. 92 – Fenerbahçe | |
|---|---|
| Position | Centre |
| League | Basketbol Süper Ligi EuroLeague |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1992-09-28)September 28, 1992 (age 33) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 233 lb (106 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 2014:undrafted |
| Playing career | 2014–present |
| 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 | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Khem Xavier Birch (born September 28, 1992) is a Canadian professionalbasketball player forFenerbahçe Beko of theBasketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and theEuroLeague. He playedcollege basketball for thePittsburgh Panthers and theUNLV Runnin' Rebels.
Birch playedvarsity basketball forSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School inRussell, Ontario before playing out the remainder of his high school career atThe Winchendon School inWinchendon, Massachusetts andNotre Dame Prep inFitchburg, Massachusetts.
In 2011–12, Birch playedcollege basketball at theUniversity of Pittsburgh, with thePittsburgh Panthers. He then, in 2012, transferred toUNLV, where he played with theUNLV Runnin' Rebels. As a junior, in the 2013–14 season, he averaged 10.2 rebounds per game, which was the third highest in theMountain West Conference, while also averaging 3.8 blocks per game,[1] which was the second highest in the Mountain West Conference.[2] During his college career, he averaged 8.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists in 25.4 minutes per game in 69 games.[3]
In April 2014, he entered theNBA draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility.[4][5]
After going undrafted in the2014 NBA draft, Birch joined theWashington Wizards for the2014 NBA Summer League. On September 14, 2014, he signed with his first NBA team, theMiami Heat.[6] However, he was later waived by the Heat on October 25, 2014.[7] On November 3, 2014, he was acquired by theSioux Falls Skyforce, as an affiliate player.[8] On February 4, 2015, he was named to the Futures All-Star team for the 2015NBA D-League All-Star Game.[9] In the2014–15 NBA 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.[10]
On June 30, 2015, Birch signed to play in Turkey, withUşak Sportif of theTurkish Super League (BSL).[11] The following month, he joined theBrooklyn Nets for the2015 Orlando Summer League[12] and theNew Orleans Pelicans for the2015 Las Vegas Summer League.[13] 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 theTurkish Super League 2015–16 season.[14]
On June 14, 2016, Birch signed to play in Greece, on a 2-year€1.1 millionnet income contract,[15] with the defendingGreek Basket League champions,Olympiacos.[16] 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 theGreek Basket League2016–17 season.[17] 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 theEuroLeague2016–17 season,[18] helped the team to join2017 EuroLeague Final Four.
On July 10, 2017, Birch opted out of his contract with Olympiacos, in order to sign in the NBA.[19]
On July 27, 2017, Birch signed with theOrlando Magic.[20]
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 theCleveland Cavaliers.[21]
On July 10, 2019, Birch re-signed with the Magic on a 2-year contract.[22]
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 thePortland Trail Blazers.[23]
On April 8, 2021, Birch was waived by the Magic.[24]
On April 10, 2021, Birch signed with theToronto Raptors for the remainder of the 2020–21 season,[25] making his debut the next day during a 102–96 loss to theNew York Knicks, getting four points and five rebounds in 18 minutes of action.[26] Three days later, Birch tied his career-high with 14 points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks in a 117–112 win against theSan Antonio Spurs.[27] On April 26, he tied his career-high again with 14 points, six rebounds, one assist, two steals and two blocks in a 112–96 win against theCleveland Cavaliers.[28] 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 theBrooklyn Nets. On April 29, he 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 theDenver Nuggets.[29]
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.[30]
On February 9, 2023, Birch was traded, alongside a 2024 first-round draft pick and two future second-round draft picks, to theSan Antonio Spurs in exchange forJakob Poeltl.[31] He did not appear in a game for the team, and was waived prior to the start of the following season on October 19.[32]
On February 5, 2024, Birch signed withBàsquet Girona of the SpanishLiga ACB.[33]
On September 11, 2024, Birch signed a one-year deal with the Turkish powerhouseFenerbahçe.[34] On May 25, 2025, Birch helped Fenerbahçe to their second EuroLeague championship inAbu Dhabi.[35]
In the2024–25Basketbol Süper LigiFinals againstBeşiktaş Fibabanka, Birch led Fenerbahçe to won game one (94-76) with 15 points and 6 rebounds[36] on June 17 and won game two (84-76) with 18 points and 6 rebounds[37] on June 19, and also recorded 12 points, 8 rebounds and 1 steal in game four (87-91).[38] then he won theTurkish League Finals MVP award for2024-25 season.[39]
On August 3, 2025, Birch re-signed with Fenerbahçe on a one-year contract.[40]
Birch was a member of the junior national teams of Canada. WithCanada's Under-18 junior national team, he played at the 2010FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship, where he won a bronze medal.[41] He is also a member of the senior men'sCanadian national team. With Canada's senior national team, he played at the2016 Manila FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Birch represented Canada at the2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China. He was named to Canada's roster for the2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[42]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance index rating |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Orlando | 42 | 0 | 13.8 | .540 | – | .689 | 4.3 | .8 | .4 | .5 | 4.2 |
| 2018–19 | Orlando | 50 | 1 | 12.9 | .603 | .000 | .699 | 3.8 | .8 | .4 | .6 | 4.8 |
| 2019–20 | Orlando | 48 | 24 | 19.2 | .510 | .000 | .653 | 4.6 | 1.0 | .4 | .5 | 4.4 |
| 2020–21 | Orlando | 48 | 5 | 19.8 | .450 | .190 | .741 | 5.1 | 1.1 | .7 | .6 | 5.3 |
| Toronto | 19 | 17 | 30.4 | .556 | .290 | .636 | 7.6 | 1.9 | .8 | 1.2 | 11.9 | |
| 2021–22 | Toronto | 55 | 28 | 18.0 | .485 | .000 | .746 | 4.3 | 1.1 | .5 | .5 | 4.5 |
| 2022–23 | Toronto | 20 | 0 | 8.1 | .594 | .500 | .800 | 1.3 | .4 | .3 | .3 | 2.2 |
| Career | 282 | 75 | 17.1 | .520 | .200 | .698 | 4.4 | 1.0 | .5 | .5 | 5.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Orlando | 5 | 0 | 18.4 | .556 | — | .857 | 6.2 | .8 | .2 | 1.0 | 5.2 |
| 2020 | Orlando | 5 | 0 | 17.8 | .500 | — | .909 | 5.0 | 1.4 | .2 | .0 | 4.8 |
| 2022 | Toronto | 6 | 4 | 10.5 | .500 | .500 | — | 1.5 | .5 | .2 | .2 | 3.0 |
| Career | 16 | 4 | 15.3 | .521 | .500 | .889 | 4.1 | .9 | .2 | .4 | 4.3 | |
| * | Led the league |
| † | Won the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Olympiacos | 37* | 21 | 18.1 | .624 | — | .643 | 5.6 | .3 | .5 | 1.0 | 7.3 | 10.8 |
| 2024–25 † | Fenerbahçe | 36 | 19 | 13.4 | .585 | — | .725 | 3.7 | .6 | .4 | .0 | 3.5 | 5.2 |
| 2025–26 | 11 | 9 | 15.3 | .524 | — | .666 | 3.3 | .7 | .1 | .2 | 2.4 | 2.6 | |
| Career | 84 | 49 | 15.5 | .604 | — | .667 | 4.5 | .5 | .4 | .2 | 5.0 | 7.3 | |
| † | Denotes seasons in which Birch won the domestic league |
| Year | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 |  Uşak Sportif | TBSL | 32 | 27.2 | .577 | .000 | .651 | 9.1 | .5 | .5 | 1.3 | 10.5 |
| 2016–17 |  Olympiacos | GBL | 25 | 17.0 | .710 | .000 | .622 | 5.2 | .5 | .6 | 1.0 | 6.4 |
| 2023–24 |  Girona | ACB | 12 | 23.3 | .519 | .000 | .719 | 5.7 | .8 | .6 | .8 | 8.8 |
| 2024–25 † | Fenerbahçe | TBSL | 28 | 14.1 | .585 | .000 | .725 | 3.7 | .6 | .4 | .4 | 3.5 |
| † | Denotes seasons in which Birch won theCBI |
| 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 | |
Birch has three brothers, and attended high school atSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School inRussell, Ontario. 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 theAir Canada Centre. He has been married since 2018 and has a daughter born in 2019.[44]