Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking every player on the 2021-22 roster
By Dalton Sell
Ranking the 2021-22 Milwaukee Bucks — No. 15: Elijah Bryant
Coming over near the end of the regular season, Elijah Bryant received one genuine opportunity with the Bucks. That came against the Chicago Bulls on the final night of the season, where the guard showed some potential as he tallied 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists. After that performance, Bryant did not get legitimate minutes in the postseason, leaving a small sample size to break down his fit with the team.
Only time will tell if Bryant can get more minutes entering his second season with the Bucks, although their revamped guard rotation does not bode well for his chances. He showed signs of promise during his first game with the team, but he also played over 30 minutes in that matchup as the Bucks sat most of their starters. Bryant remains an unknown heading into the 2021-22 NBA season, and perhaps he could turn some heads if he gets minutes.
Ranking the 2021-22 Milwaukee Bucks — No. 14: Mamadi Diakite
Much like Bryant, Mamadi Diakite did not receive many opportunities with the Bucks last season, briefly making appearances for the team. His numbers were far from the flashiest, but that was expected from the undrafted big man who was looking to find his footing in his rookie season. While he did not exactly impress during his limited minutes with the Bucks, Diakite truly shined when he was down in the G-League bubble last season as he earned an All-NBA G-League First Team selection, an All-Rookie selection, and an All-Defensive selection.
The potential is there for Diakite, it just needs to be unearthed. During his limited action, he has shown signs of being a formidable shot-blocker, hinting that he could be a great rim protector. His offense is still a work-in-progress, but he can stretch the floor and shoot the three to an extent, which works in a system like Milwaukee’s that emphasizes outside shooting. Diakite likely will not get meaningful minutes consistently for the Bucks this season, but he could catch some attention if he performs well in those scarce opportunities.