Oklahoma City Thunder player, Hamidou Diallo, recently spoke about his offseason and rookie season in an interview.
When asked about his first NBA offseason, Diallo said, "The offseason is extremely valuable. During the season, it's really hard to work on the things you want to work on because you have to play a lot of games and the focus is mainly on the team. But in the offseason, the restraints are removed, and it's like time to focus on improving yourself."
Speaking about his adjustment to his rookie season, he said, "Playing three and a half games a week for eight months is something I've never done in my life. I've played in every game. If we didn't have games in high school, I could go play baseball, but obviously that's not the same level as NBA games. I wake up every day excited to go play basketball. So, is it easy? No, it's not easy. But I still enjoy it all."
In the previous season, Diallo played in all 82 games, averaging 29.4 minutes, 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game, shooting 53% from the field. He attempted an average of 4.3 three-pointers per game, making 1.6 with a 37% shooting percentage. His free throw percentage stood at 79.3%.
Diallo's statements convey his appreciation for the offseason and the challenges he faced in his rookie season. It's clear that he takes his development seriously and is excited about the opportunities to improve himself. With his solid numbers from his first season, it's safe to say that Diallo is off to a promising start in his NBA career. Let's see if he can continue to make strides in the upcoming seasons.
