Ousmane Dieng returns from injury, what is the plan for the lottery pick?
By Rylan Stiles
The Oklahoma City Thunder could continue to utilize the NBA G-League for Ousmane Dieng’s development
While we all want to see the 11th overall pick on the biggest and brightest stage, especially as we watch Jalen Williams thrive in this system and make a winning impact as a rookie, but everyone has a different path.
Ousmane Dieng played in 11 NBA G-League games before the injury in which he logged 16 points per contest, shooting 45 percent from the floor, 34 percent from deep on six attempts, and hauling in eight rebounds a night. Dieng also posts 70 percent from the charity stripe which NBA teams use to project future three-point success.
Dieng also earned some playmaking minutes with the OKC Blue squad where he dished out four assists per night, a block, and almost a steal per night.
In his return to the G-League from injury on Saturday against the Texas Legends, Ousmane Dieng dropped 20 points, hauled in nine rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal while shooting 2-for-7 from three.
The OKC Thunder then recalled their promising wing and have not sent him back down to the G-League yet despite the Blue playing against the Grand Rapids Gold on Tuesday.
Though, they can assign him to the G-League at any time, and maybe should give him more time with Kameron Woods’s squad.
Ousmane Dieng looks more comfortable being confident in the G-League and asserting himself as more of a go-to scorer than when he has received NBA action, and the Blue has more chances for him to work on his playmaking which is an upside skill for him at his size to unlock the push the pace versatile style OKC wants to achieve.