We continue our pop quiz series with the Bucks’ non-Giannis forward corps. Only one of these guys played a full season with the Bucks, but all arguably exceeded expectations given how low those were due to prior underperformance or injury. Let’s first review their years before the questions.
Season in a snippet
Ousmane Dieng
30 GP, 26.8 MPG, 11.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, .423/.331/.667
After three-plus years buried on the Thunder’s bench, expectations weren’t exactly high for the former
11th overall pick (drafted a spot ahead of Jalen Williams!), but there was initial interest surrounding Dieng among fans. Was he not playing because he was too young? Or because he wasn’t very good? OKC had plenty of better wings during his time there, and it’s not as if they were that much older than him at 20–21 years old. So skepticism existed alongside the intrigue.
That quickly turned into real optimism after his first two games in Milwaukee’s rotation, when he combined for 36 points, 14 boards, six assists, and four blocks while shooting nearly 60% from the field (8/14) from deep against the Magic and his former team. From there, he was a regular fixture down the stretch, and though his production wasn’t like that every night, he was in double figures more often than not. Pretty dependable 12/5/5 guy from March onward too. He even set a new career-high with 36 points (plus 10 dimes) against Houston on April Fool’s Day. All in all, someone with the makings of a productive rotation player, a floor he may have already reached. The ceiling may not be all that high, but definitely a great start to his time as Buck.
Kyle Kuzma
69 GP, 26.2 MPG, 13.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG, .492/.347/.726
Kyle’s end-of-season grade: C+
Now for someone who didn’t have a great start to his Bucks tenure. Before the season, there was probably no Buck that fans were lower on than Kuz, thanks to an absolute dud of a series against the Pacers. But he put together a year reminiscent of his Laker years, when he also wasn’t a primary scoring option, unlike when he was a Wizard. Giannis’ injuries thrust him into a starting role more often than was probably hoped, but he had some very nice evenings when filling in (26 against Dallas and Charlotte in November, 31 against Boston in December, 31 against Chicago in February, 33 against Phoenix in March) for Antetokounmpo. Nothing sticks out positively or negatively for Kuzma this year, which is probably all you can ask for at this point in his career.
Taurean Prince
26 GP, 23.5 MPG, 9.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG, .450/.436/1.000
Kyle’s end-of-season grade: C+
TP also had a terrible series last spring, so not everyone was keen on his return for another go-around. But Milwaukee was starved for wing talent to begin the year, and he was off to a solid start as they won five of their first seven games, shooting the ball excellently. Unfortunately, he went down with a neck injury and required surgery, keeping him out for over four months. The Bucks even applied—and reportedly received—a disabled player exception for him, which was ultimately unused since he was able to return to the floor on March 10. From then on, he was his usual self, shooting the ball very well with decent defense. He even scored in double digits each of the Bucks’ final six contests while receiving starter’s minutes. Moreover, it was just good to see Prince back on the court after a procedure that hampered a few other guys’ careers significantly.
Tantalising totals
(1) Before Dieng’s career-best 36 in Houston, how many times in his career did he ever score over 20?
Click to reveal answer
Twice: 22 as a rookie and 21 against the Bucks last season.(2) Believe it or not, but Kuzma established a new career-high this season in which major category, obliterating his previous best?
Click to reveal answer
Field goal percentage at 49.2%, surpassing his 46.3% from 2023–24.(3) True or false: Prince had more double-doubles in 2024–25 than 2025–26.
Click to reveal answer
False, he had just one last season and two this season.Atypically advanced
(1) When Kuzma was on the floor, did the Bucks’ assist percentage rise or fall?
Click to reveal answer
It rose, though only from 62.4% to 64.3%.(2) Did Prince have a better net rating last year or this year?
Click to reveal answer
This year: the Bucks were four points per 100 possessions better when he played this year, and last year they were 6.9 points per 100 worse when he was on the floor as compared to off.Obscure optics
(1) When Dieng started, did his three-point percentage increase or decrease relative to when he came off the bench, and by how much?
Click to reveal answer
As a starter: 29.5% As a reserve: 41.5% Nearly 12%!How did you fare? Share your score in the comments, and don’t forget to drop your thoughts along with it—which stat stands out?
