By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After leading the Oklahoma City Blue to the G League championship and being named Finals MVP, Ousmane Dieng is a candidate for a bigger role with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
Dieng, 21, was selected with the 11th pick of the 2022 draft. Over the next two seasons, he was limited to 72 appearances in the NBA, averaging 4.5 points per contest. His experience in North America largely focused on the affiliate team, logging 53 games played with the Blue. Last season, he tallied 17.2 points behind 46.9% from the field, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per contest.
“I think the last couple months of the Blue season were huge for him,” mentioned executive vice president and general manager of the Thunder, Sam Presti, in the season-ending press conference, “Playing in those types of games, carrying that kind of responsibility.”
Projected for more playing time in the NBA, an additional bonus for the forward out of Villeneuve-sur-Lot, he was named on the preliminary list of France for the 2024 Olympic Games.
“He cranked it up developmentally during the postseason,” said Presti, “We flipped his summer program and got it going early because we thought he’s going to be potentially playing for the national team so we need to get as much done with him as possible. But I was very pleased with how he ended the season.”
“I think he’s made some big strides here,” he added regarding the French youngster.