THROWBACK: Next Star explodes for career-high

Before being crowned as a 2025 NBA champion with Oklahoma City, former Next Star Ousmane Dieng was shining for the New Zealand Breakers.

The French wing made 23 appearances for the Breakers during the Hungry Jack’s NBL22 Season, with the best coming in Round 19 against South East Melbourne.

During that April 10 fixture at Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena, Dieng scored a career-high 22 points, including 4/6 from downtown.

He also added a career-high six assists and two blocks, as well as six rebounds and two steals, for a full stat line.

During his Breakers stint, Dieng averaged 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

Following his time in the NBL, Dieng was selected with the 11th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by New York, which was then traded to the Thunder.

The now 23-year-old just wrapped up his fourth season in the NBA, having now made 149 appearances in his career with Oklahoma City and Milwaukee.