OKC Thunder Forward Ousmane Dieng ‘Validates’ Work in Outing Versus Jazz
Drafted No. 11 overall In the 2022 NBA Draft, Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng has been a tad overshadowed by his counterparts.
Though it sounds like a negative, it’s far from it. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams — who were selected second and twelfth by OKC, respectively, in the same draft — are two of the top up-and-coming young players in all of the NBA. And Dieng, being drafted at freshly 19-years-old, was always going to be on a developmental path that was likely to take him on the scenic route.
And so far, that’s been the case. In 51 NBA games spanning his first two seasons, Dieng has averaged just 13.5 minutes, scoring 4.5 points, grabbing 2.5 rebounds and dishing 1.1 assists while shooting 41% overall and 27% from beyond the arc.
But games like Monday’s against the Utah Jazz offer a glimpse into what Dieng’s high-end outcome as a 6-foot-9 forward can be.
Notching early minutes against Utah, Dieng was able to pour on 18 points and three rebounds and assists apiece, missing just one shot and hitting on three of his four 3-point attempts.
Suffice to say, it was a great game for the french prospect, who has spent the last handful of weeks with the Oklahoma City Blue of the G League.
In seven games with the Blue, Dieng has averaged 16.7 points on 43% shooting, dishing out three assists per game and grabbing seven boards.
When asked of Dieng’s performance in postgame, head coach Mark Daigneault had strong words for the second year.
“I think it validates the time he spent in the G League,” Daigneault said. “He played four games in a very short period of time. That’s why we sent him there was the volume of games he could get in just a week.:
“He’s a better player, he came back very sharp from that experience — he played with a lot of confidence, I thought he really sent a good message about what you can get out of the Blue.”
Potentially armed with a now highly-confident Dieng, the Thunder next take on the Kings at 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14.
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