In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2021-22 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are taking 20 players into training camp along with four preseason games. While many players have a roster spot solidified, there are a handful of guys who will be competing for either a spot on the roster or minutes in the regular season rotation.
Let’s take a look at Mamadi Diakite who is among the players that will be interesting to watch over the next few weeks.
Player Bio
Diakite is an athletic forward at 6-foot-9 that is still looking to find his place in the NBA. At 24 years old, he still is a fairly raw prospect that has a ton of potential.
A teammate of Thunder guard Ty Jerome in college, Diakite went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft. From there, he signed a two-way deal with the Milwaukee Bucks and was ultimately converted to a full NBA deal later in the season.
Now an NBA champion, he averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game as a rookie.
Roster Outlook
On a Thunder team that lacks center depth, Diakite has a real chance at making the roster at the end of camp. While he is a bit undersized to play the position, he’s been playing a ton of center over the first week of training camp.
While he doesn’t project to ever be a starter in the NBA, Diakite’s versatility is intriguing. His athleticism gives him a high ceiling as a defender and overall role player.
If he doesn’t make the Thunder roster, he’d be a great candidate to join the OKC Blue in the G League.
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