Villeneuvois Ousmane Dieng began his third NBA season with his Oklahoma City Thunder franchise. This year, the 21-year-old from Lot-et-Garonnais will do everything to have more playing time than last season and honor his first selection with the France team.
On October 25, Villeneuvois Ousmane Dieng, NBA basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder team, began his third season in the prestigious North American league by facing the Denver Nuggets. An away victory for the 21-year-old Lot-et-Garonnais winger, during which he played 13 minutes, scored six points, grabbed three rebounds and made a block. Two days later, his playing time increased to 20 minutes against the Chicago Bulls (6 points, 6 rebounds and an assist), before dropping to 8 minutes (5 points, one rebound) against the Atlanta Hawks on October 28. for the first home game of the season.
On October 31, OKC will host the San Antonio Spurs at the Paycom Center, home of the Thunder. The one who was drafted in 11th position in 2022 will then find his compatriot Victor Wembanyama, a true NBA superstar. “It’s a match like any other, but it’s always nice to play against French people, people we know and friends,” says the 2024 G-League champion. “I’m going to try to continue to do what I’m doing, and we will do everything to win this match. I hope that Victor Wembanyama will continue the same momentum as last season. I am convinced that he will shine again this season.
“If we need to help out at the pivot position, I will help out.”
The former resident of the Villeneuve Basket Club (VBC) continues the matches at the start of the 2024-2025 season, in particular due to injuries within the interior sector in OKC. With Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams injured, only Chet Holmgren remains at center for the Thunder. The coach therefore decided to trust Ousmane Dieng, versatile and impressive with his 2.08 m, to take over at position 5 coming off the bench. “It’s going well, I’ve had playing time since the start of the season and we’ve just had three wins,” declared Ousmane Dieng. “There are quite a few injured in the interior sector, so I have to help a little in these positions, especially at position 5 (pivot). It’s unfortunate for them, but it necessarily gives me minutes. “It’s important for me to be on the pitch, whatever the position. If I have to help out at the pivot position, I will help out and I will do everything to help the team win.”
This year, the basketball player from Villeneuve-sur-Lot aims to “have a role in this team”. This means integrating the rotation more regularly and seeing his playing time significantly increase compared to last season (33 games played and 13 minutes on average per game). Judging from his promising preparation matches, his start to the regular season and his recent one-year extension with the franchise, Ousmane Dieng’s personal goal seems entirely achievable. “I know the club has confidence in me,” he confides. “And this contract extension proves it. It’s now up to me to do the job behind. I can still improve my shooting and continue to do what I’ve been doing on defense since the start of the season. We can always improve on all the aspects. So I continue to work.”
Dieng plays on one of the best teams in the NBA, masterfully led by coach Mark Daigneault, voted best coach last season. First in the regular season last year and semi-finalists of the Western Conference (eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks), the Thunder, carried by their Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and by interior Chet Holmgren, continue on the same momentum only during the 2024-2025 season. He appears to be a strong candidate for the NBA championship, alongside franchises such as the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.
“OKC has remained a good team year after year,” Ousmane Dieng said. “But we’re going to have to earn it and do all the little things to achieve our goals. For the moment, we prefer to take it one game at a time and see where it takes us. That’s what We did last year and the year before again, Collectively, we still have a lot of progress to make. We are good defensively, but the shots are not coming, but we will have to continue to work and continue. persevere.”
“Alexandre Sarr will succeed in this league. His draft in second position is deserved”
This season, the former New Zealand Breakers player will meet many other French players on American and Canadian courts. He has already faced Zacharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks), number 1 in the last NBA Draft. “We played against him a few days ago. We didn’t know each other before, it was the first time I saw him. He played really well, I think he finished with 13 points and six rebounds, ” says Ousmane Dieng.
He will also find a player he knows better having faced him as a youth: Toulouse Alexandre Sarr (Washington Wizards), second choice in the last Draft. “I am very happy for him and his draft in second position is deserved. It’s nice,” confides the Villeneuvois. “I played against him in youth, and I played with his brother Olivier Sarr for the last two seasons. On the other hand, I haven’t been able to see many of his matches or his statistics yet, but I think he going to make it in this league.”
“The French team is and will always remain a goal for me”
Players he could soon rub shoulders with in the French team. The Lot-et-Garonnais hope to finally honor their first selection after two failed call-ups. In 2023, for the preparation of the Euro, Dieng was called by Vincent Collet as a training partner, but he was unable to go there due to a back injury. In 2024, for the preparation of the Olympic Games in Paris, the Thunder winger was recalled to the France group, before being quickly dismissed with Killian Hayes.
“The French team is and will always remain a goal for me. I hope I can train with the Blues this time,” smiles Ousmane Dieng. “And of course, honoring my first selection. I was a little frustrated not to make the Olympics and not to be able to show what I can do. But I quickly moved on, and I quickly refocused on the NBA season and my summer preparation.”
This year, there are changes around the national selection. Frédéric Fauthoux succeeded Vincent Collet as coach, and many Blues executives retired internationally. Ousmane Dieng could thus take advantage of this renewal in the French team to play the Euro in 2025. There is no doubt that his performances with OKC, as a winger and pivot, will be scrutinized by the new French staff.
