From the moment he set foot in town, Ousmane Dieng has done nothing but show his potential with the Milwaukee Bucks. The best part is that he still has plenty more to bring to the surface. His recent effort in the NBA Preseason was clear proof, with the forward doing a little bit of everything in the win over his old OKC squad. It was the type of showing that highlighted why the team cannot forget him.
If he continues developing, the Milwaukee Bucks could have a rare type of player on their hands due to his do-it-all ability.
Dieng quietly shines against OKC
After not playing at all against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opener, Dieng needed to come out and make a statement. While he didn't have the type of performance that would capture attention on a mainstream basis, the forward flexed plenty of positives for the Milwaukee Bucks fans watching as he scored, rebounded, and passed particularly well.
In 22 and a half minutes, Dieng finished with eight points, seven assists, and five rebounds, doing his part in a second-half comeback by the Bucks. It was a stat-sheet-stuffing performance that captured his all-around skills.
Above all else, the passing stood out. He's shown before that he can make a pretty pass every now and then, but in this outing, Dieng commanded the offense. Whether he was finding interior threats like Myles Turner or Sims, kicking it out to an open Kasparas Jakucionis, or dishing it to a cutting Nate Ament, Dieng's passing was undoubtedly on point.
Even with an assortment of ball-handling guards in town, it will never be a bad thing to have a forward who can take some pressure off them with his ability to command the offense.
Elsewhere, the forward scored three baskets and made a pair of free throws. It would have been nice to see him hit one of his two triple tries, but he missed both, doing all of his damage close to the rim. On the glass, Dieng happened to be in the right place at the right time often, but it was nice to see him staying active and hauling them in, especially after the team's issues last season.
This showing should have everyone sitting back wondering what type of player the 23-year-old could be if his development continues.
Bucks' forward rotation is still unclear
Players who can do everything Ousmane Dieng does at 6-foot-9 do not grow on trees. His knack for scoring, passing, and rebounding is all captivating. After playing the most prominent role of his NBA career down the stretch with the Milwaukee Bucks last season, the forward clearly has more to give if he earns steady minutes, and the good news for him is that his window of opportunity is open.
Between Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Nate Ament, Bogoljub Markovic, and Pete Nance, none of the other forwards in this rotation have dominated throughout the preseason. Whether it's the three or the four, the forward spot is a weak point for the Milwaukee Bucks, meaning all of these players will be tested to see who can be the best option to strengthen it. Perhaps that starts with being versatile.
The biggest question mark revolves around his defense. With his height and length, Dieng has all of the tools to be exceptional on that end. Yet, the glimpses were just... glimpses last season. He needs to take that next step, in addition to doing everything else previously mentioned, to truly cement his long-term place with the Milwaukee Bucks.
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