Ousmane Dieng’s ‘Crazy’ Trade Route Leading to Bucks Breakthrough

OKLAHOMA CITY — The only thing that Milwaukee Bucks striker Ousmane Dieng sought his trade from Oklahoma City Thunder was an opportunity. Still, he wasn’t sure where he would come from after being traded three times in 24 hours. Leaving the only NBA team who has he ever played for Deing was determined to thrive elsewherewhich eventually led him to join All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Baksi.

The trip, however, took Dieng on a journey across the United States. Then, to Canada, then back to the United States, and ended with a long car ride to Milwaukee, his final destination.

“It was crazy,” Dieng told ClutchPoints. “I was in San Antonio with the Thunder. Then I got traded to the Hornets. So I stayed in my room for four hours. Then the Chicago trade happened. So I flew to Chicago. I did a physical night and morning. Then I was supposed to play Chicago in Toronto. So I got on a plane, I went on a plane to Toronto, then I went to the trade to Toronto. Milwaukee.

“So I had to land in Toronto, go back to Chicago and drive to Milwaukee. It was really crazy, but I’m excited to be here.”

Dieng traveled over 2,333 miles to be there, and it paid off. With Antetokounmpo nursing a right calf injury amid the Bucks’ 22-30 record in the NBA’s 82-game regular season days, Dieng’s 17 points, including five 3-pointers and three rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench, helped Milwaukee to a 116-10 rout of Orlando.

Bucks head coach Deing says Doc Rivers he helped ease the pressure felt by most players who join a team midseason by telling the fourth-year forward to be himself, to trust his instincts, and it paid off in the form of breakthroughs.

“He just told me to play the way I play, make the right decisions,” Dieng said. “And I told him I would do anything to help the team win.”

The advice helped Dieng settle into his new home, as did the support of Giannis’ brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and the rest of the Bucks organization, which Ousmane said made his transition to his new team easier. Still, returning to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder, his former team, was a fitting follow-up to his first foray with the Bucks. He set the stage for a career-best performance on Thursday.

Ousmane Dieng’s career night lifts the Bucks in his return to OKC

Bucks forward Usman Dieng scored a record 19 points in a 110-93 win against the Thunder. Facing his former team was an emotional night, Dieng admits. That didn’t detract from his focus, though: the familiarity and warm welcome from Thunder fans when the PA announced Usmane’s name during the lineup introduction at the Paicom Center led to his best performance.

In a 110-93 win against the Thunder, Dieng finished with 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, 11 rebounds, six assists, four blocks and one steal. After loading up the stats against the Thunder, it’s hard to believe that Dieng felt many different emotions before tip-off.

“A lot of everything; nervous, excited, but it was fun,” Dieng said. “I loved it. I played four years with those guys. So it was really fun.”

Ahead of Dieng’s return to Paycom Center on Thursday night, Bucks assistant coach Darwin Hamm, who will replace head coach Doc Rivers, spoke how much he enjoyed it working closely with Dieng.

“Real good kid, man, in the short time I’ve been around him,” Hamm said. “Great atmosphere for him, he asks all the right questions, I was standing next to him on the first day of practice. And when we’re just talking about offense and different dynamics, defense, you know? High IQ, absorbs everything, takes it one step at a time and likes to work. We’re excited for him.”

Bucks assistant coach Darwin Hamm, filling in for Doc Rivers’ pregame media availability, talks about what he’s liked about Usman Dieng so far pic.twitter.com/FGvRJ3eplH

— Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) February 12, 2026

For Dieng, his two breakout performances with the Bucks are a byproduct of giving him an increased role on the team that wasn’t readily available on the Thunder. Behind All-Stars Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams on head coach Mark Dayno’s depth chart, Dieng was eager to prove himself as an everyday NBA player. He wasted no time doing so in his first week with the Bucks.

“I feel like it’s just an opportunity. I put in the work,” Dieng added. “I know what I can do. I can just show it now. It’s great.”

Dieng combined for 36 points on 13-of-22 shooting, including 8-for-14 from deep, 14 rebounds, six assists, four blocks and one steal in the last two games with the Bucks. He is in the final year of his four-year, $6.6 million rookie contract through 2025-26 and will enter the summer as a restricted free agent.