Ousmane Dieng will start his fifth NBA season on October 22 when the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Washington Wizards, his first full campaign in Wisconsin since joining the franchise ahead of last season's trade deadline. The 23-year-old forward, born in Villeneuve-sur-Lot and a product of the Villeneuve BC and INSEP, signed a three-year, $17.5 million contract with the Bucks in July 2026 after becoming a free agent. The deal keeps him in Milwaukee through 2029.
The new season carries heavy personal significance. Dieng's father, Ababacar Dieng, who had accompanied him throughout his career since the 2022 draft, died in August. Dieng was selected 11th overall by Oklahoma City Thunder and spent three and a half years there, winning an NBA title in 2025 before a whirlwind February 2026 trade sent him through Charlotte and Chicago in 24 hours before he landed in Milwaukee.
Last season in Wisconsin, Dieng produced steadily after the deadline move. In 30 games with the Bucks, including 20 starts, he averaged 11 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 26.8 minutes per match. His standout performance came in April against the Houston Rockets with 36 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists. Those numbers earned him the new contract, though he must now establish himself under new head coach Taylor Jenkins, who replaced Doc Rivers in the off-season.
The Bucks have entered a rebuilding phase following the trade of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Dieng faces competition on the wing and at power forward from Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kyle Kuzma, and is likely to begin the year in a reserve role. Bleacher Report writer Zach Lowe has tipped him as a candidate for the league's Most Improved Player award, noting his ball-handling, outside shooting and defensive versatility.
