OKC Thunder: Ousmane Dieng Quietly Posting Solid Summer League

Ousmane Dieng is quietly putting together a strong Summer League campaign.

When watching the Oklahoma City Thunder Summer League squad, it's easy to find yourself focused the likes of second overall pick Chet Holmgren, 2022 Rookie of the Year runner-up Jalen Williams and Oklahoma City’s newest defensive stalwart Cason Wallace. But the Thunder’s second lottery selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, Ousmane Dieng, is quietly putting together a strong Summer League campaign.

Drafted eleventh overall just over a year ago, many knew what Thunder were getting into with Dieng, who hailed from the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL. Despite immense size and length — 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot wingspan — he was likely to require a multi-year developmental process to truly come into his own in the NBA.

And this year’s Summer League slate is a small part of that.

Dieng’s first game, a bout versus the Jazz in Salt Lake City, was shaky to say the least. He shot just one-for-11 overall and one-for-five beyond the arc to finish with four points in 30 minutes of play. The other production was solid: four rebounds, three assists and a steal and block apiece. But it wasn’t the showing most had hoped for.

Since, however, Dieng has taken his two-way play to another level, looking much more like the lottery pick OKC spent on him.

Against the Grizzlies just a few days later, he posted 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks on 50 percent shooting. The day after, he had his best game of the summer with 22 points on 10-for-12 shooting, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.

In his first Las Vegas game Saturday, he continued to trend upwards, posting 13 points on five-for-nine shooting and tacking on five rebounds, three assists and a steal.

It won’t be easy for Dieng to break into meaningful minutes in the Thunder’s rotation next season. But with performances highlighted by his defensive prowess, fluidity and strong shooting touch, he could find himself there sooner than later.

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