Gorgui Dieng

Gorgui Sy Dieng is a Senegalese professional basketball player who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). At an early age, Dieng attended the Sports for Education and Economic Development (SEEDS) Academy in Thies, Senegal. He also took part in the 2009 ‘Basketball Without Borders’ camp in South Africa. He was selected as one of the 60 promising players from Africa and named MVP of the camp.

In the 2009-10 year, Dieng was transferred to Huntington Prep in West Virginia. As a senior, he averaged 15.4 points, 12.6 rebounds and 7.2 blocks per game. Dieng was considered as the No. 10 power forward and the No. 44 player in the nation in 2010 and a four-star recruit by Rivals.com. After being recruited by multiple colleges, Dieng decided to play his college basketball for Louisville.

In his freshman year, Dieng averaged 5.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and blocked 1.9 shots in 29 games in his limited action. He helped the team finished the 2010–11 season with a 25–10 record and a trip to the 2011 Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament where they lost to Connecticut. Dieng started playing at the center position as a sophomore in the 2011-12 season. He led the Big East Conference in blocks, setting an All-Time school record for most blocks in a season. He was also named as a student representative to the board of directors of the U of L athletic department for the 2012–13 school year.

Dieng was drafted as the 21st overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. He was later traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night. In 2014, Dieng recorded 22 points and 21 rebounds in a game against Houston Rockets, becoming the first ever 20-20 game by a rookie in Timberwolves' franchise history.

With this performance, he also became just the sixth player in NBA history since 1970 to have at least 20 points and 20 rebounds within their first three career starts. Dieng was named NBA All-Rookie second team. In 2016, he scored a career-high 24 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in a 112–105 victory over the Chicago Bulls. In the 2016 off-season, Dieng signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension with the Timberwolves.