Thunder’s Dieng Out At Least Six Weeks With Wrist Fracture

Thunder rookie Ousmane Dieng, the No. 11 overall pick of June’s draft, has been diagnosed with a small, non-displaced fracture in his right wrist and will be reevaluated in about six weeks, the team announced (via Twitter).

Dieng also suffered a “slight chip fracture” in his right wrist during Summer League action, but Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman reports (via Twitter) that the two injuries aren’t related.

Dieng was viewed as a developmental prospect after playing last season for the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s National Basketball League. The French 19-year-old was the first top European prospect to take advantage of the NBL’s Next Stars program.

The 6’10” forward hasn’t played much at the NBA level thus far, appearing in 14 games (15.7 MPG) while averaging 4.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG and 1.4 APG.

However, he has played extensively in the G League — he suffered the injury in Wednesday’s game for the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s affiliate. In 11 games with the Blue, he averaged 15.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 4.4 APG and 1.2 BPG on .449/.343/.700 shooting.

Dieng hasn’t been a regular member of the Thunder’s rotation, so his absence won’t necessarily impact other players. Still, it’s an unfortunate setback for the versatile teenager, and hopefully he recovers quickly.