While the pre-season officially began on Monday for many teams, several French hopefuls walked the American courts. This is particularly the case of a big French talent who already seems to have everyone in agreement!
It didn’t take him long to put his new teammates in his pocket. Arrived only a few weeks ago in Oklahoma City, Ousmane Dieng quickly impressed in the ranks of the Thunder. Including star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who raved about her on the podcast Down To Dunk :
He is super young! I didn’t know two things about him: how young he is, and how tall he is. It is gigantic! Kids of this size who move so well, it does not run the streets. He is unique in this, and he feels the game well. Of course, he is still young, so we will have to give him time, but he has talent, that’s for sure.
A talent that he was able to exhibit this Monday, during the first pre-season game of his franchise.
Ousmane Dieng already conquered in Oklahoma City
Opposed to the Nuggets a few hours ago, Mark Daigneault’s men emerged victorious from this first test (112-101). A meeting during which Dieng was entitled to a significant playing time (22 minutes), which he was able to take advantage of. Admittedly awkward in terms of shooting (1/6), the young French winger nevertheless accumulated 5 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block, and above all scored points thanks to his defense:
He might have not made any standout plays yet but Ousmane Dieng has been wonderful on defense
Size, IQ, Technique & Lateral Movement all there
— TF (@ThunderFocus) October 4, 2022
He may not have signed any big plays yet, but Ousmane Dieng has been marvelous in defense. Size, intelligence, technique & lateral movement: it’s all there.
Ultra-mobile despite his 2m08, Dieng was able to go the distance perfectly against Michael Porter Jr. and other Aaron Gordon. While waiting to find the address, he has therefore been able to distinguish himself in a positive way, which should help him to integrate the rotation of OKC on a long-term basis. Moreover, observers already seem convinced that his place is in the NBA, and not in the G-League!
I’ve seen enough, Ousmane Dieng is an NBA player
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) October 4, 2022
I’ve seen enough, Ousmane Dieng is an NBA player
Obviously surrounded by expectations as the 11th pick of the last Draft, Ousmane Dieng justified them during his first outing in pre-season. Let’s hope that this one will be followed by other perfs of the genre to see him regularly shine at the Thunder!
