As simple as it sounds, New Orleans rookie second-round pick Cheick Diallo needs experience playing the game of basketball as much as any new pro. The 20-year-old was sparingly used during his one college season with the Kansas Jayhawks, meaning he has scant game repetitions against high-level competition. That makes his current assignment to Austin of the D-League an ideal opportunity - the power forward has started each of his four games and is logging 26.5 minutes a night. Diallo has averaged 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.3 blocks for Austin (3-1).
“An important element of his development is just playing,” Pelicans GM Dell Demps said of the 33rd overall draft pick.