Despite being the 2025 NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a lot of work to do this offseason. They’ve completed some signings, extensions, and draft selections, but is it time to reconsider for the future? Not in the recent rumblings about selling the franchise, but rather about one of its young players. After its third year, it seems that the Ousmane Dieng project with OKC may be coming to an end sooner than most people think.
To be fair, there were stunning flashes of potential from Dieng. However, his production hasn’t been really that better than his first years. At 22 years old, he has to step up and earn a larger role with the Thunder. After all, limited opportunities may be his struggle, but he can overcome that with a bigger 2025-26 campaign.
Is the Ousmane Dieng Project Over for OKC?
As the French forward wraps up his third season with the Thunder, his future may now be better with other teams. After all, OKC is starting to feel the pressure on roster management. There are club decisions to be made soon, as well as future rookies to come in. Not to mention that they have some budding talent in Summer League as well.
What’s Wrong with Ousmane Dieng?
Let’s start out with the obvious: technically, nothing’s wrong with the Thunder forward. But it should be noted he was one of three key picks that Oklahoma City selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft. Chet Holmgren has proven his worth so far with the team and is still improving. Jalen Williams became an All-Star in his third year and is now a steady second option for OKC.
For starters, the 2025 champs ended up selecting Holmgren with the second pick. And most people tend to forget this part: Dieng came at 11th, before bringing in Williams with the 12th pick. Of course, not all players have the same development curve, but what’s taking the French forward so long?
OUSMANE DIENG is going to be a problem next year
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— Thunder Lead
(@ThunderLead) June 29, 2025
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In a team where youth development has been largely a success over the years, Dieng is making himself look like a blemish in that regard. OKC is shining in building with a huge capital of draft picks, and it will likely continue to stay that way.
Is Dieng Missing Out on Opportunities?
To be fair, Dieng has not gained steam as he is yet to pop. Not that it matters, as OKC still has a very deep unit to rely on. But we have seen Cason Wallace emerge as a valuable player off the bench, and so has Aaron Wiggins. Then, there are Holmgren and Williams, who have become so great in their own right.
How about 2022 34th overall pick Jaylin Williams? Well, it’s safe to say that he had a better run and role with the Thunder last season. If there were four checkboxes in OKC’s 2022 Draft haul, Dieng is the last one who’s yet to get ticked.
Dieng has little improvement to show for his three years in Oklahoma City compared to his draft classmates. He is averaging a meager 4.3 points and 2.2 rebounds in that span, and his 2024-25 stats (3.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 43.2% shooting) aren’t that better than the previous two. In fact, he has never played more than 40 games in a season, with his career-high being at 39 in his rookie year.
Dieng has all the tools for a player of his size to become dominant, and OKC is just holding on with patience in his growth. But with Thunder GM Sam Presti still keeping him for the next season, it means he has one last chance of proving his worth.
Still Hoping for Potential on Dieng?
Despite all that, the Ousmane Dieng project is still floating around. Being on a championship team certainly isn’t helping his case, but with Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault mixing his rotations from time to time, there’s indeed hope for him.
After all, let’s not just disregard the fact that he is a G League Champion with the OKC Blue and was also the Finals MVP there. Perhaps that’s why the Thunder are still holding on to him despite his lack of availability and consistent production.
At this point, the 6-foot-10 forward needs to start hitting the weight room. Try getting some shots up and work on improving his stroke. There’s no way that he would still be stagnant as before. If there’s one player in the Thunder roster who should be popping off next season, that’s got to be Dieng.
Showing growth and improvement is a must for Dieng next season. Otherwise, he may end up getting on the trade block in February 2026. It is worth noting that Presti is known for not letting his players reach RFA status. All things considered, the 2025-26 season may be the last one for the Ousmane Dieng project.
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