Thunder EuroBasket 2025 Snubs Have Fuel for Bigger Season

Many NBA players are looking good in this year’s EuroBasket 2025. However, not all teams have representatives for said tournament. That includes defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Initially, they had two players to play there in Ousmane Dieng (France) and Nikola Topic (Serbia). Eventually, their respective teams later cut them off from the final squad that played in the competition.

Sure, that sounds like a pretty big deal to begin with. Two Thunder players didn’t get the chance to play in this year’s EuroBasket, but can this fuel the EuroBasket 2025 snubs to play better? Certainly. We have seen how players emerged after being set aside in big competitions. Tyrese Haliburton, for instance, wasn’t really thriving in the 2024 Olympics but showed off in the following NBA season.

Thunder EuroBasket 2025 Snubs Have Fuel for Bigger Season

So can the same come from these OKC players? There are still at least a few weeks until NBA action makes its return, and the expectations are high for these two players. After all, Oklahoma City will be defending its title in the coming campaign, and its role players will be in the spotlight whether they like it or not.

Will Ousmane Dieng Prove His Worth in OKC?

Dieng has been playing with the Thunder since 2022-23. While he’s still just 22 years of age, the French forward doesn’t have much to show for his supposed development with the team so far. In three years, Dieng has never averaged more than five points per game. That is quite disappointing for a young talent in a team that has a knack for developing them. To top it off, Dieng was originally a part of the French squad playing in EuroBasket, before they cut the roster from 18 to 14 players.

Last season, Dieng averaged a meager 3.8 points per game (a career-low). He is touching better numbers in assists, rebounds, field goal and three-point percentage, steals, and blocks, but there’s still a lot of work to do. Due to injuries, Dieng has never played more than 40 games. His most games played? A total of 39 games in his rookie season. It still baffles a lot of critics and experts as to why OKC took a gamble on him. The fact that he’s yet to make his mark in year three is a tough break.

Still, Dieng is most likely gone by the trade deadline next year if he fails to impress. Honing his shooting, staying healthy, and keeping a competitive edge would make him a better player. The French forward has a cheap deal with the Thunder, but the budding talent in OKC may push him out of the rotation soon. Being one of the EuroBasket 2025 snubs is enough fuel for him to put his best foot forward this coming season and hope for the best.

Can Nikola Topic Become a Prime Talent for the Thunder?

After an ACL injury forced him to redshirt his first season, Nikola Topic is now entering the 2025-26 season as a champion. Yes, you read that right—Topic made history as an NBA champion without playing a single game. Now, as a rookie, there are sky-high expectations before him. With Thomas Sorber now redshirting his first year in OKC due to an injury, expect more minutes going Topic’s way. The Serbian guard has a lot of work ahead of him, and this year will be his proving ground.

As one of the unfortunate snubs of EuroBasket 2025, Topic must prove that he can be a talent who could blend well with the champions. He’s showing some impressive strides in the recent Summer League, and the coming preseason could bode well for him. There’s a lot of pressure on Topic. Having Brooks Barnhizer as his co-rookie this year is tough, and so is finding his way into the Thunder rotation.