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NBA: 5 All-Star Bench Players Of The West

By Colby Giacubeno

Oct 16, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton (5) guards Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) in the second quarter at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton (5) guards Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) in the second quarter at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng (5) shoots the ball past San Antonio Spurs center Boban Marjanovic (behind) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng (5) shoots the ball past San Antonio Spurs center Boban Marjanovic (behind) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

C- Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves

2015-16 Statistics: 8.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 50.6 FG%

Gorgui Dieng isn’t a guy most NBA fans are familiar with. The majority may remember him from his time with Louisville when it made a Final Four run in 2011-12 and their championship in 2012-13, but his production in the NBA as a backup center shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Dieng is a solid option off the bench for the star rookie Karl-Anthony Towns to supply efficient scoring and a presence defensively. He has even extended his range out to 15-18 feet to make him a concern in pick-and-pop situations. One stat that is alarming, especially for a big man, is Dieng’s 84.1 free-throw percentage.

As NBA fans see a plethora of big men in the league that can barely seem to hit the rim on free throws, watching Dieng go 2-for-2 on trips to the charity stripe is easy on the eyes.

Dieng is ranked second on the team in rebounds and blocks per game.

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The Timberwolves have experienced a severe drop-off, losing nine straight games to put them in 14th place in the Western Conference with a 12-29 record. It seems as if they have all the right pieces to build a bright future in Minnesota with Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Zach LaVine, but it looks as if this season will be another hard one to watch.