Kofi Inkoom
4:03 PM : The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled forwards Aleksej Pokuševski, Ousmane Dieng, and guard Tre Mann from their stint with the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League, per the Thunder PR.
10:38AM : The Oklahoma City Thunder made a roster announcement today regarding Ousmane Dieng, Aleksej Pokusevski, and Tre Mann, revealing that they’ve been assigned to the G League’s OKC Blue, as reported by Brett Dawson of Thunder Beat.
These three players have encountered challenges in securing consistent playing opportunities this season. Dieng has seen an average of 13.3 minutes in six games, while Pokusevski has only managed six minutes across three games, and Mann has played four minutes in three games.
The OKC Blue is set to start its season on November 10 and is currently engaged in scrimmages, providing a valuable chance for these players to gain more five-on-five experience.
All three are expected to actively participate in practice sessions to shake off any remaining rust before their eventual return to the Thunder’s lineup.
At the moment, Dieng is the only one among the trio who has received relatively regular playing time, reflecting the franchise’s greater investment in him as a 2022 lottery pick.
In contrast, Pokusevski and Mann have found themselves on the outskirts of the OKC rotation. In the previous season, Pokusevski played 34 games, averaging 8.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 20 minutes per game.
Although he has improved defensively and seen a slight increase in free throw attempts (from 0.8 to 1 FTA in 2021-22 to 2022-23), he continues to struggle with field goal shooting, with a conversion rate of only 43%, and his free throw shooting stands at 62.9%.