Summer League Could Give Ousmane Dieng a Chance to Show Off Development

Oklahoma City's forgotten rookie had a big season in the G League, and could've contributed even more if not for a midseason injury.

Ousmane Dieng’s rookie season was overshadowed by an unfortunate wrist injury that forced him to miss a good chunk of games down the stretch and a prime opportunity for development. When he returned, though, he continued to showcase promise for the Oklahoma City Blue, and performances like his finale against the Memphis Grizzlies displayed the type of player he could be someday down the line.

Even though Dieng recorded just nine G League appearances, he averaged 17.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on 45.3% shooting. Even more promising, the raw prospect shot 34.9% from 3-point range on seven attempts per game. Considering the volume, and difficulty, of long range shots he was taking, Dieng’s potential is still through the roof.

Oklahoma City’s final game of the season against the Grizzlies put the finishing touches on Dieng’s season of potential and promise. The Thunder allowed its stars to rest up before the play-in, meaning the rookie from France received an extended role.

Dieng had a chance to play down the stretch, but not like he played against Memphis. The do-it-all forward tallied 45 minutes to close the season and poured in 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. He received plenty of volume and fared well with the ball in his hands.

Oklahoma City’s summer league roster is still up in the air, but with Aleksej Pokusevski’s recent injury, Dieng will be one of the only forwards on the roster. Of course, the attention will be centered around Chet Holmgren’s availability, but Dieng could end up being the star of the show.

Because of his time in the G League, fans are relatively unfamiliar with his skillset and the ways he grew over the course of the season. But Dieng’s two-way play could be the talk of the summer if he’s able to put it on display in Las Vegas. If he was able to thrive in an extended role for the Thunder, it’s safe to expect him to do the same against younger competition in the Summer League.

He’ll certainly have the green light, and with a big stretch of games, could quickly emerge as a breakout candidate for the fall.

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