Sidy Cissoko's time to shine may have finally arrived. Many Portland Trail Blazers have been waiting for this moment, but they know it likely wouldn't have come unless he becomes more than a defensive specialist. Now, he has made offensive strides that have had coach Micah Nori trusting him and giving him significant playing time.
In past years, Cissoko's offensive game appeared to be too raw for the NBA. He couldn't consistently hit shots, particularly from behind the arc, and seemed indecisive with the ball. Still, he managed to play 75 matches last season, starting 26, as some of his teammates had to spend time on the injured list.
Showing key offensive growth
In the Blazers' first two games of the 2026-27 regular season, Cissoko has played 26.0 minutes per contest. He was also the second player off the bench both times, with Jrue Holiday being the first reserve subbed in.
The French youngster has proven deserving of being a major part of the rotation. He has become a more reliable perimeter weapon, hitting 1.5 3-pointers per game on 37.5 percent shooting after averaging just 0.6 makes per contest on 28.3 percent efficiency in his first three seasons.
And Cissoko has been more than just an off-ball threat nowadays. He has also shown improvement when handling the ball and finding the open man. Additionally, he has excelled in fast-break situations, which should be an important part of Nori's offensive schemes given the roster's makeup.
The good thing is that Cissoko is still a beast on defense, displaying the ability to guard four positions, maybe even five. As such, the Blazers have found themselves an indispensable rotation guy.
Hoping for sustainability
I know it is still too early in the season. Two games is a small sample size to say for certain that Cissoko has indeed become the offensive weapon the Blazers need off the bench. It's also worth mentioning that their opponents were the rusty Phoenix Suns and a Sacramento Kings squad not exactly known for their defensive prowess.
Still, we can't overlook how vastly improved the former second-round pick has looked on the court. He also appears more confident out there, so that should count for something.
Hopefully, Cissoko can sustain his offensive leap for the rest of the season (and even beyond). After all, the Blazers have no one else on the roster who has what he brings to the table: a young, versatile 3-and-D reserve who doesn't need the ball in his hands all the time to be effective on offense.
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