A relatively healthy Celtics roster led to a decline in playing time for Ojeleye in his sophomore season of 2018-19. The return of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward resulted in Ojeleye appearing in only 56 games (three starts) and averaging 10.6 minutes per contest. However, he improved in a number of metrics despite the cut in playing time. Ojeleye actually bested his rookie scoring mark with 3.3 points per game -- that's 11.3 points on a per-36-minute basis -- thanks to a much-improved 42.4 field-goal percentage. The Celtics finally unleashed him for 38:13 on the court in the final game of the regular season, Apr. 9 against Washington, and Ojeleye responded with a career-high 17 points along with four rebounds, three assists and a steal. But Ojeleye had delivered some other eye-opening performances in limited time over the course of the year. Most impressively, on Dec. 8 at Chicago, he scored 13 points in just 14:25 on the court, hitting 3-of-6 from downtown. Ojeleye found his way into the lineup for six of the Celtics' nine playoff games, and he set a new playoff best with six points in just 11:02 during Game 3 of their second-round series against the Bucks.

Ojeleye was drafted by the Celtics with the seventh pick of the second round out of Southern Methodist and went on to play a major bench role in his rookie year, appearing in 73 games (all as a reserve). Ojeleye's gritty defense meant he was often tasked with coming off the bench to slow down opponents' top scoring wings. The muscular Kansas native also banged inside versus a few power forwards. Ojeleye's ability to guard players of different positions was a strong fit with coach Brad Stevens' switching defensive scheme. On the whole, he averaged 2.7 points (including 0.5 threes) and 2.2 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game. He cracked double-digit points twice, setting his personal best Apr. 8 against Atlanta with 13 points and six rebounds. Come playoff time, Ojeleye again played a vital defensive role. He also made the first three starts of his career in the Celtics' first-round series against Milwaukee, largely tasked with guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo.