Ousmane Dieng is turning heads in Milwaukee - and fast. In back-to-back games, the 22-year-old forward has not only set new career scoring highs but has also given the Bucks a jolt of energy that feels like it could shift their second-half narrative. After dropping 17 points against the Magic, he followed it up with a team-high 19 in a statement win over his former squad, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
But this isn’t just a hot streak. This is a young player flashing the kind of two-way upside that makes you sit up and take notice.
Against OKC, Dieng didn’t just light it up offensively - he stuffed the stat sheet with 11 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks. That’s not filler production.
That’s impact.
And maybe the most encouraging sign? He’s showing real touch from deep.
Over his last two outings, Dieng is 8-of-14 from beyond the arc. That’s not just efficient - that’s the kind of shooting that stretches defenses and opens up the Bucks’ offense in ways that could be crucial down the stretch.
Interim head coach Darvin Ham, stepping in for Doc Rivers, couldn’t help but rave about what he’s seeing.
“I think he’s just scratching the surface,” Ham said after Dieng’s revenge performance in OKC. “He’s so young and just his size, his athleticism, his smarts - some of the passes he made tonight, some of the finishes, threes, the defense - like, he’s just scratching the surface. We found a jewel.”
That quote might sound like coach-speak if you hadn’t watched Dieng these last two nights. But the tape backs it up.
At 6-foot-10 with fluid movement and a growing feel for the game, Dieng has always had the tools. The question was whether he’d ever get the opportunity - and the confidence - to put it all together.
In Oklahoma City, that chance never fully materialized. He played 39 games as a rookie, averaging just 14.6 minutes.
This season, it was more of the same: 27 appearances, limited touches, and a modest 3.7 points per game, though he did shoot a respectable 36.7% from deep.
Across 136 career games, Dieng’s numbers - 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and one assist per game - don’t exactly leap off the page. But context matters.
Oklahoma City is deep, talented, and chasing wins. Sometimes, there just isn’t room to let a young player play through mistakes, even one with Dieng’s upside.
Still, there’s value in being around a winning culture. Dieng was part of two playoff teams and last season’s championship run.
Even in a limited role, that kind of experience can be formative. And now, with a fresh start in Milwaukee, he’s showing what happens when talent meets opportunity.
“They did a good job prepping him here,” Ham said of Dieng’s time in OKC. “It’s like that sometimes.
Sometimes you can have too many good players and so you have to part ways with some, but we’re happy we were able to get him. He’s someone that’s going to help us in the immediate present and the future.”
That “immediate present” part feels especially important. The Bucks didn’t bring Dieng in just to stash him on the bench.
He’s already earning real minutes and making real contributions. And if these early signs are any indication, Milwaukee may have stumbled onto something bigger than a depth piece.
Dieng’s blend of size, skill, and versatility is rare. If he continues to build on this momentum, he could be a difference-maker - not just in the regular season, but come playoff time. For a Bucks team looking to solidify its identity under a new coaching staff and make another deep run, that kind of breakout couldn’t come at a better time.