Ousmane Dieng’s parents, Marie-Pierre and Ababacar, are basketball enthusiasts who trained him from a young age. Osumane’s most prominent supporters, his family, traveled from France to the USA to attend the 21-year-old player’s NBA draft.
Ousmane Dieng is a French professional basketball player who plays as a small forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Dieng in exchange for three 2023 first-round draft picks after the New York Knicks picked him with the eleventh overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
He won the NBA G League championship with the Oklahoma City Blue on April 15, 2024, and was voted the most valuable player of the championship game.
In the victory over the Maine Celtics, he scored 25 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists, and blocked two blocks. His dream of becoming an MVP was already taking shape.
Ousmane was trained by his father, a former basketball player. Now, the NBA fans wonder if the young basketball prodigy will live up to his family’s name.
Key Takeaways:
- Ousmane Dieng is the eldest son of his parents, Marie-Pierre and Ababacar.
- Dieng has a sister named Astou, who used to play basketball.
- Ousmane learned the game from his father, Ababacar, who played basketball but never went pro.
- Ousmane Dieng is supposedly dating another player, Palmire Mbu.
Ousmane Dieng’s Parents Say the Young Player Was Born With A Basketball in Hand
Ousmane Dieng’s parents raised two basketball players who took them to Descartes in Villeneuve-sur-Lot. Thanks to his family, Ousmane became interested in basketball from a young age.
His mother said, “It started early with Ousmane.” She added, “At six months, he had a stuffed ball in his hands. A few months later, it was a balloon”.
We can all say that the future champion was born with specific measurements. His mother clarified, “We called him Shaquille O’Neal. He is 59 cm for 4.6 kilograms. Maybe it was a destiny that the Villeneuve couple didn’t fully foresee.”
Of course, the young son always did as his father did. “I was in Villeneuve at the time. He was there. He saw me,” recalls Magic. As an early member, Ousmane joined a baby basketball team in Villeneuve-sur-Lot at two and a half years old.
Ousmane followed the standard training schedule, moving up the ladder over time, especially in the junior and junior divisions. Modestly, the father refrained from overreacting before his son made it pro. He said, “You see that he has qualities, but you don’t imagine for a single second the path he’s going to take afterward.”
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Ousmane Dieng’s Parents Did All They Could to Help their Son Go Pro
Osumane is one of the most prominent basketball prodigies, and there is no doubt about that. However, we might have never seen his magic if it had not been for Bieng’s parents’ efforts.
From traveling miles for his games to training him at home, Ousmane Dieng’s folks did it all.
Lot-et-Garonne champion, South-West champion, and, with the Lot-et-Garonne selection, French champion. Ousmane won it all at a very young age.
His father added: “Several people pointed out his potential to us. In addition, he was capable of playing in several positions”.
Ousmane joined the training facility at Mont-de-Marsan. The staff and the location were familiar to the family, and he felt comforted. “It was the right place for him.”
His mother was “a little less enthusiastic.” The initial months were challenging for the mother to live far from her son.
He would make great strides for the next two years. Additionally, his parents were “always there” for him. The younger player rotated between the center and Villeneuve-sur-Lot.
Then, when Ousmane joined the French junior team of JSA Bordeaux the following year, travels to Bordeaux were added to his father’s list. “It was tough for the dad too,” chuckles Marie-Pierre, “when on Monday morning, we had to leave at 5 o’clock to take him back to Mont-de-Marsan.”
For Ousmane and his parents, the major leap came after three years at INSEP. “Another dimension” had been added to the young basketball player. It was early in 2021, and Ousmane had to decide. “American universities sought after him. “Teams in Australia as well,” his dad said.
Large teams like Monaco, Paris Basket, Blois, Strasbourg, and Evreux are not unimpressed by the possibilities in France. “You consider the advantages and disadvantages of every option. “It was a reflection of our family,” Marie-Pierre added.
Ousmane Dieng’s Family Flew to the USA for the Player’s NBA Draft
June of 2022 was significant for Ousmane Dieng’s family.
The young Villeneuve man was thriving in his career, which had started at the Salle Descartes. As always, his parents, Marie-Pierre and Ababacar, were there to support their son. This time, they had traveled to the United States from France.
Together with their then-16-year-old daughter Astou, who used to play basketball, Ababacar, and Marie-Pierre Dieng, they joined their then-19-year-old son Ousmane in getting ready for the 2022 NBA Draft.
His mother said, “For the moment, we don’t realize it.” “We know he is in the top twenty. It’s already exceptional,” added his father.
This was not the first time the Dieng couple went to another country to support their son. They went to New Zealand during the COVID to support their son. He was playing for the New Zealand Breakers.
Alongside fellow Frenchman and eventual 2022 NBA draft pick Hugo Besson, Dieng confirmed on June 1, 2021, that he would play for the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL) in the 2021–22 season.
Dieng stated on June 1, 2021, that he, fellow Frenchman Hugo Besson, and future 2022 NBA draft pick Hugo Besson would play together for the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL) in the 2021–22 season.
He was the first player from Europe to sign up for the NBA’s Next Stars program, which develops players for the draft.
The NBA G League Ignite and prominent collegiate basketball schools have also pursued Dieng during that time. Dieng left the Breakers on 17 April 2022 to prepare for the 2022 NBA draft.
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Who Is Ousmane Dieng’s Girlfriend, Palmire Mbu? Is He In A Relationship?
Ousmane Dieng seems to be in a relationship with another basketball player, Palmire Mbu.
Although the 21-year-old player has not disclosed his relationship with Palmire, he posted a picture of Palmire on his Instagram, raising dating rumors.
She is also from Villeneuve-d’Ascq, Dieng’s hometown.
After attending Lycée Hector Berlioz Vincennes, Palmire attended the University of Rhode Island, where she played basketball as a forward. At 6’1″, she wears the #5 jersey on her basketball team.
She is active on Instagram under the username @palmire_mbu. However, she has kept her account private.
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People Also Ask
Ousmane Dieng has over $5 million net worth with his NBA contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ousmane Dieng has a salary of $5,266,551 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ousmane Dieng has a height of 6 ft 10 in.
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Bidhya Sagar Shrestha is an experienced content writer with a solid content creation and digital marketing background. His majors in entrepreneurship and marketing give him a deep understanding of business environments and marketing strategies.
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