French swingman Ousmane Dieng, who is considered one of the top prospects for the 2022 draft, will play for the New Zealand Breakers next season as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
It’s the same route that Hornets guard LaMelo Ball took before being drafted in the lottery last season. Magic rookie R.J. Hampton, the 24th pick in last year’s draft, also used the Next Stars program as a springboard as well as Australian guard Josh Giddey, a potential 2021 lottery pick. Dieng is the first European prospect to make the jump to the Breakers.
The 6’9” Dieng is ranked No. 14 by ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony for the 2022 draft. Givony views the 18-year-old as a superior passer who has shown versatility as a shot-maker and defender, Wojnarowski adds.
Dieng, who played for Parisian Academy INSEP in France’s third division, was heavily recruited by American college programs as well the NBA’s G League Ignite team. French, Australian, Lithuanian and Spanish teams — including Barcelona — were also bidding for Dieng’s services, Lithuanian journalist Donatas Urbonas tweets.
Absolutely stoked – welcome to the team, Ousmane!
very interesting. we now have top euru prospects going to nbl. we all can agree that this is not an elite league. what is offered is more relaxed contracts, extended game minutes, and a professional setting to grow. a chance to be an immediate contributor right away.
Playing in the NBL two seasons ago worked out really well for Jae’Sean Tate.
Breakers had a crap season this year, although they played nearly all of their games in Australia due to CoVid.
NBL is making moves. First RJ and LaMelo, then Giddey and now another kid coming down here. Tate a few seasons ago was down here and is now making a name for himself.
I mean why not? Come down to NZ or Aussie for a few months, get paid to play the game you love, loads of attention by fans, English speaking country for easy adjustments, in a league that’s competitive but not difficult.
Hope more ex players come down to the NBL, I mean if I was a retiring NBA player I’d rather Australia over China, Brazil, Peru etc