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Ousmane Dieng is now starting for the bucks and looking like a promising young player. Since he’s been a Milwaukee Buck he’s averaging 9.5 PPG, 4 RPG, and 2.5 APG while shooting 41% from deep!🔥🔥🔥

But how did Ousmane go from sitting on the OKC bench, to starting for the Bucks?

Well Dieng was drafted with the 11th pick by the New York Knicks. But then traded on draft night to OKC for 3 2023 FRPs. Those picks included the 2023 Pistons first protected 1-18, the Wizards first 1-14 protected, and the Nuggets first 1-14 protected.

Dieng was often viewed as a bust his first few years as players like Jalen Williams and Jalen Duren were drafted right after him.

His rookie year he played 39 games averaging 4.9 PPG. He shot 26.5% from deep that year too. He spent a lot of time his rookie year in the G-League averaging 15.8 PPG and 8.3 RPG in the G-League his rookie year over 11 games.

During Ousmane’s second year he struggled even more to find a spot in the Thunder rotation only playing 11 MPG over 33 games. He had similar production to his rookie year averaging 4.0 PPG shooting 30% from 3. This year he only played 7 games in the G-League but again had great production there scoring 16.7 PPG and 7.1 RPG. But his third year he’d get even less time with OKC becoming a contender and winning an astonishing 68 games.

Entering his third year OKC was the best team in the league and had no room for Ousmane in the rotation again. He played 37 games only scoring 3.8 PPG and it started to look like OKC shouldn’t have traded for him on draft night. It seemed like he might not get a new contract from a team after his next season.

He rode the bench through the playoffs getting his first ring but he didn’t contribute at all. Something needed to change for him to stay in the league.

Entering his 4th season OKC did not extend him so this year he needed to show out if he wanted a new contract. He again was struggling to get consistent minutes but was efficient when he played shooting 36.7% from three up until the deadline.

It was February 4th, 2026 and Ousmane was getting ready for a game against the Spurs but then he was shipped to Charlotte and quickly traded again to Chicago. Ousmane said “I was in San Antonio. I got traded to the Hornets, so I stayed in my room for, like, three hours. Then the Chicago trade happened, so I flew to Chicago.”

It looked like Chicago was going to be Ousmane’s new home. He had his medical evaluations for their next game against Toronto but there was one issue. “As soon as the plane took off the Milwaukee trade happened.” said Dieng.

He knew this was his final destination since the deadline was about to hit. February 9th, 2026 he made his Bucks debut but it looked like he might not make their rotation either as he only played 5 minutes scoring 2 points on 1 of 3 shooting.🥶

But that would all change 2 days later against the Magic… Dieng caught FIRE dropping 17 points on 5/8 from 3! This game solidified him in Doc’s rotation where he’s been starting ever since!

Thanks for reading!