Breakers' Ousmane Dieng to start NBA Career at OKC

courtesy of nbl.com.au

Ousmane Dieng will begin his NBA career with the Oklahoma City Thunder alongside fellow NBL Next Star alumni Josh Giddey.

Dieng has become the latest NBL Next Star to make the NBA, after being selected by the New York Knicks with the 11^th pick in the Draft. He was then traded to the Thunder after being selected.

One of the most tantalising and promising prospects in the draft, Dieng saw his NBA stocks rise after a strong season with the New Zealand Breakers.

He scored in double figures in his last four games, while constantly showcasing his athleticism, ball handling and major promise as a difference maker on the defensive end.

Dieng averaged 13.3 points and 4.0 rebounds and shot 51.4% from the field over his last 11 games.

Dieng becomes the fourth player to be drafted to the NBA from the Next Stars program, joining Giddey, Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball and Orlando’s RJ Hampton.

He is the sixth Next Star to progress to an NBA roster, joining Ball, Hampton, Giddey, Brian Bowen Jr and Didi Louzada.