Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 goals for Hamidou Diallo’s rookie season

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Hamidou Diallo #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Hamidou Diallo #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
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(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

2. Work on being a spot-up shooter

Diallo will have to try and find his way on the team and gain valuable minutes. One way he can do that is by becoming a reliable spot-up shooter.

In NBA Summer League, he was able to shoot well when given the chance. He did not attempt many 3s but he was able to hit them and shot 20-for-41 from the field overall (48.8 percent).

In the game against the Charlotte Hornets, Diallo took only one 3 and did not make it. Against the Brooklyn Nets, which was a blowout win, Diallo shot two 3s and hit both of them. He did not take any against the Toronto Raptors, and went 1-for-2 from deep against the Memphis Grizzlies.

In college, Diallo shot 33.8 percent from 3-point range. He can make 3s but is not what you would call elite or consistent just yet.

If he is able to work on that and show the ability to make that shot at the NBA level, like he was able to display in Summer League, that will go a long way toward earning him extra minutes.