Since coming into the bubble, Hamidou Diallo has looked like a player who could get meaningful minutes in the Oklahoma City Thunder rotation.
He has averaged more than 11 points over his last three games while making 3-s and playing strong defense, particularly against the Utah Jazz in the first real game back.
Head coach Billy Donovan said that a positive from the nearly four-month hiatus was that young players finally had time to process the information they had been told throughout the regular season.
“I say this all the time with young players: When you have a period of time that these guys play a lot of games and there’s a long layoff, they have a lot of information that they’re going through for the first time that they can process,” Donovan said. “I think Hami’s no different. He’s just gotten better.”
During the day-to-day grind of the regular season, players certainly improve, but so much of practices and film sessions are dedicated to opponents: what those stars do, how to counter their moves, how to play your own game while being aware of what the opponent will try to force you into.
With months of break, athletes get a pause from the daily and can look at longer-term improvements.
Diallo had that time. He also finally had health on his side. And coming into August, he’s now closer to a third-year player than second.
Celebrating his birthday Friday symbolizes just how long it has been since the beginning of the season, when he was a fresh-faced 21-year-old with 51 games under his belt.
“Just being able to sit out and work on our craft – it was like an actual summer, I would say,” Diallo said. “It feels like we’re starting off fresh.”
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With his third “offseason” in the books, there are some improvements.
“Working on my ball handling, working on playing in different actions that I’d normally be in and just trying to get a feel for it,” he said. “Working on my body — staying in shape, getting stronger.”
Donovan has seen more from him as well. Sometimes when Diallo drives, the defender will be in position for a charge or to block him out. Over this last month of practice, Diallo looked more refined.
“I think he’s finding creases, and he’s finding angles a little bit better of getting to the rim and finishing,” Donovan said.
He also put an emphasis on shooting. There’s been just a small sample size, but Diallo has made four of his five 3-pointers attempted during the four total games and scrimmages in the bubble.
While Diallo needs to work on his form and consistency, he said the mental side is just as important.
Confidence is key. Donovan has stressed that to Diallo. Timid shooters don’t make buckets.
“It’s all confidence and it’s all mental,” Diallo said.
Stretching the floor is an important ability for Diallo to improve upon, particularly with the Thunder’s cast of wings that lack consistency from deep. On Saturday, he looked confident, making both 3s he attempted.
Excuse me, his name is 𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗗𝗢𝗨 𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢. @hamidoudiallo | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/Ht5aFkXCub
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) August 1, 2020
When his 3s aren’t falling, Donovan sees potential in other forms on offense.
“When the ball is in his hands, because he is so explosive, he needs to think about being an attacking player,” Donovan said. “If he doesn’t have it, then he can be a ball mover.”
Defensively, he showed Saturday that he has remained strong, helping limit fiery Jazz backup guard Jordan Clarkson to 4-of-17 shooting.
It’s not yet clear what Diallo’s role will be during the playoffs. The Thunder have a deep bench, one that’s been improved with the return of Andre Roberson.
The fact that Diallo has shown improvements bodes well. Those months off gave him a chance to learn.
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