Many NBA players are looking good at this year’s EuroBasket 2025. However, not all teams have representatives for the said tournament. This includes the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Initially, they had two players to play it. Ousmane Dieng (France) and Topic Nikola (Serbia). Ultimately, their respective teams then excluded them from the final team that participated in the competition.
Of course, this seems like a big deal at first. Two Thunder players didn’t get a chance to play at this year’s EuroBasket, but could that fuel EuroBasket 2025 snubs for better play? Certainly. We have seen how players emerge after being sidelined in major competitions. Tyrese Haliburtonfor example, didn’t really thrive in the 2024 Olympics, but shined in the following NBA season.
Thunder EuroBasket 2025 snubs have fuel for longer season
So, can the same thing come from these OKC players? There are still at least a few weeks until NBA action returns, and expectations are high for these two players. After all, Oklahoma City will defend its title next campaign, and its 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. Although he is still only 22 years old, the French striker doesn’t have much to show for his supposed development within the team so far. In three years, Dieng never averaged more than five points per game. It’s quite disappointing for a young talent in a team that has a knack for developing them. To top it all off, Dieng was originally part of the French team participating in EuroBasket, before reducing the squad from 18 to 14 players.
Last season, Dieng averaged 3.8 points per game (a career low). He’s putting up better numbers in assists, rebounds, field goals and three-point percentage, steals and blocks, but there’s still a lot of work to do. Due to injuries, Dieng never played more than 40 games. His most played matches? A total of 39 games during his rookie season. Many critics and pundits are still baffled as to why OKC took a gamble on him. The fact that he has yet to make his mark in year three is a tough break.
Always, Dieng will likely be gone before the trade deadline next year if he fails to impress. Perfecting his shot, staying healthy and maintaining a competitive edge would make him a better player. The French forward has a cheap deal with the Thunder, but OKC’s burgeoning talent could soon push him out of the rotation. Being one of the EuroBasket 2025 snobs is enough fuel for him to do his best this upcoming 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 freshman season, Nikola Topic now enters the 2025-26 season as a champion. Yes, you read correctly: the subject has entered history as an NBA champion without playing a single game. Now, as a rookie, the expectations are extremely high in front of him. With Thomas Sorber he is now redshirting his first year in OKC due to injury, expect more minutes to follow the topic. The Serbian guard has a lot of work ahead of him and this year will be his testing ground.
As one of the unfortunate EuroBasket 2025 snubs, Topic must prove that he can be a talent who can blend in well among the champions. He is showing impressive progress during the recent Summer League, and the upcoming preseason could bode well for him. There is a lot of pressure on Topic. Having Brooks Barnhizer as his co-rookie this year is difficult, as is finding his way into the Thunder’s rotation.
…Or you can just watch highlights from the Nikola Topić Summer League until October.pic.twitter.com/Yd0faSUQ2T
– NBA Serbia (@NBASrbija) July 27, 2025
Before entering the NBA, Topic averaged 15.1 points, 5.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds with Crvena Zvezda. The Oklahoma City guard was one of the top talents to watch in the 2024 NBA Draft before being ruled out entirely due to injury. Now that he’s finally back in action, The subject must make up for lost time.
The final word on EuroBasket 2025 snobs
If there’s one thing to expect from the Thunder’s EuroBasket 2025 setbacks, it’s for them to have some extra motivation heading into the season. They can’t stand a long tournament that could even expose them to potential injuries. That being said, Topic and Dieng have a lot of work to do during the 2025-26 season. Every player must show that they have value for the Thunder. As reigning champions, impressive performances are expected from their players. If they want to have the final say on their race with OKC, a big campaign is certainly needed.
© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
