The NBA has seen an influx of talent coming in from the ‘Fashion Capital of the World,’ France. At the forefront of this new generation of French players is the 6’10” forward Ousmane Dieng, hailing from the beautiful city of Bordeaux. First noticed as a sixteen-year-old by the Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager, Sam Presti, while honing his skills at France’s National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP), Dieng has come a long way in his basketball journey.

Drafted 11th overall in 2022 by the Thunder, Dieng’s journey began as a four-year-old kid accompanying his dad, who played third division basketball back home. Being around the game from such an early age ignited a fire in the young boy’s heart, thus sowing the seeds of one day wanting to make it to the NBA. The Thunder saw immense potential in this rising star and signed him to his first NBA contract.

Ousmane Dieng’s Contract Breakdown

Dieng has signed a four-year rookie contract with the OKC Thunder for $21,066.202. Let’s see the breakdown of his contract:

And OKC guaranteed the entire amount, meaning Dieng would receive the entire amount. The Thunder also has the club option for Dieng’s fourth year, as per Spotrac.com,.

A look at Ousmane Dieng’s Salary

Upon entering the NBA in 2022, Dieng signed his rookie contract, the Thunder. His first-year salary stood at $4,569,840. This went up marginally to $4,798,440 during the 2023/24 season. For the 2024/25 season, Dieng is being paid $5,027,040. His current deal ends next season, when he is estimated to get $6,670,882. He will become an RFA for the 2026/27 season.

A look at the brands endorsed by Ousmane Dieng

Today’s NBA is truly global, with international stars adding a whole new dimension to the league through their dazzling performances. Major corporations from different parts of the world have taken note of this and are seeking the NBA’s up-and-coming stars to endorse their products, and Dieng is no exception to this. In his rookie year, Adidas signed Dieng as part of its “New Class.” This was a significant step up for Dieng in the world of sports endorsements.

In addition to this, he would go on to partner with Panini, a leading sports collectibles company, signing limited edition rookie cards, such as the Panini Instant Lucky Endorsement Series, available to collectors.

Ousmane Dieng’s Professional Career

Dieng’s professional career began at fifteen, when he decided to leave home to join INSEP in Paris. This move paid off as he developed his basketball skills playing against grown men in the third division. He would also have a growth spurt of nearly six inches during this period. 

Post his basketball education at INSEP, he would make an even bolder move by traveling overseas to play in the NBL, Australia and New Zealand’s top basketball league, representing the New Zealand Breakers, thus further enhancing his game. Subsequently, his basketball journey would come full circle in 2022 when he finally entered the Association through the NBL Next Stars program.