Ousmane Dieng

Ousmane Dieng's Biography

Ousmane Dieng was born on May 21, 2003, in France. He’s a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Throughout his career, Dieng has demonstrated an uncanny ability to command the court and contribute to his team’s success.

Born and raised in Lot-et-Garonne, France, Dieng was exposed to basketball at a young age. His father, Ababacar, was a basketball player too. Under his father’s guidance and his yearning for the game, Dieng developed his skills and competence in basketball from an early age. During his youth years, he competed for Villeneuve Basket Club and JSA Bordeaux, demonstrating impressive talent that would later see him rise to professional leagues.

Continuing his pursuit of basketball mastery, Dieng then attended Institut National du Sport, de l’expertise et de la Performance (INSEP) in Paris, a renowned institution for producing exceptional sports talent. During his time there, he shone brightly, competing for its under-18 team at the prestigious Next Generation Tournament.

The young talent continued to shine in the 2020–21 season when he recorded an average of 12.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. This feat was achieved while playing for Centre Fédéral in the Nationale Masculine 1, France’s national league. Such consistent performance was a testament to Dieng’s prowess and potential for even greater heights.

On 1 June 2021, Dieng announced a significant leap in his career – he was going to play for the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL) in the 2021–2022 season. The season saw him playing alongside fellow Frenchman and the future 2022 NBA draft selection, Hugo Besson. With this move, Dieng became the first European player to benefit from the league’s Next Stars program, which aims to foster the growth and development of promising NBA draft prospects.

Despite this progress, Dieng’s relationship with the Breakers came to an end on 17 April 2022, when he announced his departure from the team to fully prepare for the 2022 NBA draft. His move to New Zealand had indeed served its purpose, earning him the attention of several major college basketball programs and the NBA G League Ignite.

In the 2022 NBA draft, Dieng was selected as the eleventh overall pick by the New York Knicks. However, the Knicks quickly traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for three 2023 first-round draft picks. His career was on an upward trajectory, and on 15 April 2024, he won the NBA G League title with the Oklahoma City Blue. The victory came with an additional accolade; he was named the championship game’s most valuable player. In that match, Dieng garnered 25 points, six boards, four assists, and two blocks in the win against the Maine Celtics.

Aside from his professional career, Dieng made an impact on the international platform, specifically representing France at the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship in Italy. He averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game. His performance was instrumental in helping his team earn the silver medal, further cementing his reputation as a force to reckon with in the basketball world.

Ousmane Dieng’s life story underscores the journey of relentless passion, talent nurtured into excellence, and undying commitment to the game of basketball. His actions both on and off the court continue to secure his space as a rising star in the sports world.