Ousmane Dieng Could Provide Spark off the Bench for OKC Thunder

On Sunday night, Ousmane Dieng helped lead the Oklahoma City Blue to the G League Finals.

In a victory over the Stockton Kings in the Western Conference Finals, Dieng tallied 23 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block, continuing what has been an impressive stretch for the second-year player.

After struggling in his NBA action this season, the Thunder relegated Dieng to the G League to help the 20-year-old build his confidence and get more minutes on the court. With such a deep roster, Oklahoma City couldn't give Dieng as many in-game reps with the ball in his hands as he needed to improve his play.

The French wing seems to have responded well, averaging 17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in 26 G League contests this year. In the quarterfinals of the G League Playoffs, Dieng knocked down the game-winner in overtime, helping lead the Blue past the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

At 6-foot-10, Dieng provides great size on the wing and can even play in the four spot if needed.

For the Thunder, who have had struggles finding consistent contributors with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams sidelined, Dieng could offer a spark off the bench. A big wing who can play defense, grab rebounds and score would be a perfect fit for OKC heading into the playoffs.

With Gordon Hayward making a minimal impact in the Modern Frontier since being traded to Oklahoma City, Dieng could potentially slide back into OKC's rotation and provide a more aggressive offensive player who is taller and more athletic at this point in his career.

In 23 games with the Thunder this season, Hayward is averaging 4.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, shooting below 40% from the field. Still, Hayward has playoff experience and will likely be more valuable to the team during the postseason.

Going forward, however, Dieng will be a better option than Hayward, as the former Charlotte Hornets' forward is in the last year of his contract and will be 35-years-old next season. After Dieng's solid performance in the G League, the Thunder will try to incorporate the former No. 11 overall pick back into the NBA roster ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Game one of the G League Finals is set for Tuesday, April 9, at a time to be determined in Maine. Dieng and company will take on the Maine Red Claws, the Boston Celtics G League affiliate in a best-of-three series, with game two being played back in Oklahoma City on April 11.

If necessary, the third game of the series will be back in Maine on Monday, April 15.

Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.