Editor’s note: As an annual end-of-season exercise, The Oklahoman publishes a series of report cards on each of the Thunder’s main roster players. Grades will be curved relative to role and expectations. First up: Ousmane Dieng.
The Thunder made three lottery selections in the 2022 NBA Draft: Chet Holmgren at No. 2, Jalen Williams at No. 12 and, one pick before J-Dub, Ousmane Dieng at No. 11.
Williams is an All-NBA player, Holmgren is an all-world defender and Dieng … well, the 22-year-old Frenchman is still trying to find his way in the NBA. He’s yet to pop, but it hasn’t mattered. Sam Presti built a championship roster that is the deepest and most talented in the NBA. And there still might be something to Dieng, but it’s been hard to tell given his injuries, lack of opportunities and poor production in those limited looks.
Three years into his NBA career, Dieng has yet to eclipse 40 games played in a single season.
Dieng missed a month before Christmas after suffering a fracture in his right ring finger. Then he missed the last month of the regular season with a calf injury.
Dieng averaged 10.9 minutes in 37 games played. He averaged 3.8 points, shooting 43.2% from the floor, including 32.4% from 3-point range. He was a 69% foul shooter. Dieng averaged 2.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.7 steals/blocks per game.
“He had some great moments for us this year in real rotation minutes, minutes he could not have provided the year before,” Presti said in his postseason news conference. “I like his path because when we drafted him, he was maybe the youngest or one of the youngest players in that draft class, so we knew this was going to take some time.”
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Ousmane Dieng by the numbers
21: Dieng scored a season-high 21 points in a win against the Bucks on Feb. 3. He also had eight rebounds (tying a career high) and five assists (a season high) in that game — the 100th of Dieng’s career.
32.4%: Still well below average, Dieng’s 3-point percentage was an improvement from his rookie (26.5%) and sophomore (30.0%) years. He shot 4-of-7 (57.1%) from 3-point range in the playoffs.
10.9: Dieng’s playing time has declined season by season, from his 14.6 minutes per game as a rookie, to 11.1 in 2023-24 to 10.9 last season. Dieng has played the second-fewest career minutes — with Johnny Davis bringing up the rear — among the 14 lottery picks in the 2022 draft.
Ousmane Dieng offseason homework
You know what this Thunder roster is missing? (Just play along). A big power forward who can shoot threes and defend multiple positions. Sorry to summon the name of a Thunder killer, but a PJ Washington type.
Will Dieng be the guy to fill that role on the Thunder? Probably not, but the door is still cracked for the 22-year-old to make a surprise entrance.
First, his 3-point shot has to become wayyy more reliable. And he has to play with more force on both ends. Dieng, 6-foot-10 and 222 pounds, has all the physical tools to be an impactful defender, but he needs to consult with the defense firm of Caruso & Dort about what it takes to relentlessly compete on that end of the floor.
Ousmane Dieng grade: C-
On one hand, how the heck can we knock Dieng for not cracking the rotation of a championship team? On the other, this was Year 3 for the lottery pick. Yeah, injuries got in the way, but Dieng didn’t capitalize on the opportunities he got.
This wasn’t a now-or-never year for Dieng as an NBA player, but entering the final year of his rookie contract, his future with the Thunder is tenuous.
Thunder report card schedule
In his championship parade address, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt announced that Thunder chairman Clay Bennett, general manager Sam Presti, coach Mark Daigneault and every Thunder player would be honored with their own official day in Oklahoma City.
We’re following Holt’s schedule, publishing each player’s report card on their respective day.
July 11: Ousmane DiengJuly 15: Ajay MitchellJuly 16: Jaylin WilliamsJuly 17: Kenrich WilliamsJuly 18: Isaiah Joe July 21: Aaron WigginsJuly 22: Cason WallaceJuly 23: Isaiah HartensteinJuly 24: Alex CarusoJuly 25: Lu Dort July 28: Chet HolmgrenJuly 29: Jalen WilliamsJuly 30: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.