Kuzma credited Dieng's time deep on the Thunder depth chart for his performance now.
Ousmane Dieng has played just 12 games with the Milwaukee Bucks since being traded at the deadline from the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he's already making an impact on the court for the Bucks as they try to finish the season strong.
The biggest different for Dieng since joining the Bucks has been his usage. A constant bench player on a stacked Thunder team that stood in the way of him getting consistent minutes, Dieng has seen his minutes more than double with the Bucks and he's started in a third of the games he's played with Milwaukee.
In his most recent performance in the Bucks' 113-99 win over the Utah Jazz, Dieng had 11 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in 32 minutes on the court. The support that he's able to add to the Bucks along with the defense the contributes has been one of the pieces that the Bucks have been missing, and they're glad to have him now.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) looks for a shot against Milwaukee Bucks forward Ousmane Dieng (21) in the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Benny Sieu-Imagn ImagesLearning from the Thunder
Still, his experience playing with the Thunder, even if he had to fight for minutes, clearly taught him a lot, and the qualities he developed during that time show now that he has a chance in the spotlight.
"Smart basketball player at the end of the day. He comes from a place where... He didn't get a lot of playing time in OKC and they probably made him work for everything and didn't let him cut corners and you can see it in the way he plays," Kyle Kuzma said of Dieng (via Bucks). "He does a great job of playing simple basketball."
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams (8) hugs former teammate Milwaukee Bucks forward Ousmane Dieng (21) at the end of their game at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams-Imagn ImagesThe Bucks may not have had a successful season so far, but there's still plenty of opportunities for them to develop their skills for next season if nothing else. With Dieng on the roster, they can find a new groove as they attempt to adjust the mistakes that have let them down in the 2025-26 season so they can build back better next season.
Dieng and the Future of the Bucks
Dieng brings a wealth of experience to the Bucks despite just four seasons in the NBA, but his new opportunities give an insight into just what kind of player he can be when given the chance.
Adding him to the team is a much-needed infusion of youth in Milwaukee and a representation of the kind of future that the Bucks can build alongside players like Cam Thomas and Ryan Rollins.
No matter the circumstances now, the Bucks are looking forward to a bright future and Dieng is a big part as to why.