By Cameron Lee
January 20, 2025
Photo: Chris Carlson / AP
Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate wasn’t your typical McDonald’s All-American or five-star recruit coming out of high school. The Parisian, whose parents are from Mali and Guinea in West Africa, didn’t start playing basketball until he was 12 years old. When most American kids were finishing sixth grade, Diabate was just beginning to play the game. It was a move encouraged by his friends, mostly because of his height.
Born and raised in Paris primarily by his mother, Diabate is the oldest of five children. While the migration of West Africans to France is historically common because of the political instability in West Africa and employment opportunities in France, his family still faced hardships during his upbringing.
“I mean, they [challenges] were mostly just economic, you know, we didn’t have a lot of money or whatever,” said Diabate. “It wasn’t easy, obviously, but they [his parents] figured it out.”
When Diabate was 14, a local trainer named Mohamed Harir convinced him to record a training video to send to some high school coaches in the States. The video received immediate reactions from several schools and coaches, who were enamored with the lanky, 6-foot-6 Parisian prospect. Diabate and Harir were relentless in convincing Diabate’s mother, Korotoumou, to let her oldest son travel over 4,500 miles to play a game he had only recently become familiar with.
In 2016, when Diabate arrived in Florida to attend middle school at the famed Montverde Academy (widely known for its basketball program), he barely spoke any English. There were definitely some obstacles, not only in learning a new language but also in adapting to the unfamiliar surroundings.
“Everything was just different. Like, the people were different, the food was different. Pretty much everything…the structure of, like, the establishment was different. It was a whole new world for me,” Diabate said.
Even the style of basketball was somewhat unfamiliar compared to the brand he played in France, but his early experience at Montverde helped develop him into a legitimate Division I player and, eventually, an NBA prospect.
“It was just a lot faster [the style of play]. Like physically, it was just different…but I was starting to play with people that were, like, 18, 17,” he said.
As Diabate began adjusting his game on the court and developing his skills, he started to acclimate socially. He quickly learned English with the help of student-athletes at Montverde, like Canadian RJ Barrett, who is fluent in French.
“I had the chance to be around a lot of other international players and athletes. So it was really just learning how to adapt with different cultures around me,” he said.
Diabate went from Florida Prep for his freshman year to DME Sports Academy in Daytona Beach for his sophomore year, before landing at the elite sports prep school, IMG Academy. In 2018, he impressed scouts at the FIBA U16 European Championship in Serbia, averaging 11.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Meanwhile, his stock was rapidly rising in the high school basketball recruiting rankings, earning scholarship offers from multiple powerhouse college programs. After his senior year at IMG, where he averaged 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, he was named a McDonald’s All-American and a Jordan Brand Classic selection.
“To be honest, it definitely happened very fast…but during that time, I felt like it just wasn’t enough,” said Diabate. “It was more so like, I had high expectations for myself, and also just because I had nothing else back home.”
Diabate says that it was his relationship with Juwan Howard, the great Fab Five member, former NBA star, and Michigan head coach at the time, that was the deciding factor in signing with Michigan. Diabate formed a relationship with Howard while playing with his son Jett, who was in the summer league circuits and later became his teammate at IMG.
At Michigan, his hyper-athleticism as a 6-foot-10 rim-running power forward allowed him to develop as an off-ball cutter and showcase his defensive versatility. After his freshman season, following a Sweet 16 appearance, Diabate declared for the 2022 NBA Draft. He was selected 43rd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I was so mad, like, when they called my name, because to be honest, I genuinely didn’t think that I was getting drafted that low,” he said during an interview on The Only Child by AA podcast. “I still care a little bit. I’ll be lying if I said I didn’t, but it’s more like motivation…That was definitely not one of my best days…maybe that’s gonna work out for the best.”
Diabate played sparingly with the Clippers, spending most of his time in the G League and appearing in just 33 games over two seasons. On July 31, 2024, it was announced the Hornets had signed Diabate to a two-way contract. With center Mark Williams sidelined for the early part of the season, Diabate’s already logged twice as many minutes this season as he did in his two previous with the Clippers.
THE AUDACITY. Moussa Diabate, do not jump with him. (via @LAClippers) pic.twitter.com/dNJxKPSLIT
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 13, 2022
In his second preseason game with the Hornets, Diabate recorded a game-winning block and 10 rebounds against the Heat, showcasing his elite skills on the boards and steadfast defense, utilizing his extraordinary 7-foot-3 wingspan. During an 11-game stretch in November, he averaged 11.2 rebounds, registering three or more blocks in four of those contests. His tenacity on both sides of the court and offensive rebounding prowess provide a much-needed skillset for the current Hornets roster. He’s quickly becoming a fan favorite.
GAME-CLINCHING BLOCK 💪
Moussa Diabaté gets UP for the rejection to help the @hornets secure the win! pic.twitter.com/EA4HUTsSK2
— NBA (@NBA) October 9, 2024
“Moussa has done a nice job in taking advantage of the minutes he’s earned at this point,” Hornets President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson said during a press conference following the Richards trade.
Head coach Charles Lee has been impressed with Diabate’s growth so far this season, and he’ll likely have a chance to play significant minutes the rest of the year.
LA PERF DE MOUSSA CE SOIR ! 🇫🇷
12 POINTS
14 REBONDS
3 BLOCKS
6/7 FG@MoussaDiabate_ x @hornets #NBASaturdays pic.twitter.com/K0N8OWPSyz— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) November 16, 2024
“I think that he has done a great job since day one being in Charlotte, just trying to be a sponge,” Lee said of Diabate in early December. “I think the defensive numbers speak for themselves. With his activity, his versatility, we’re able to play some center field with him. We’re able to switch a little bit. And I think that he guards individually, takes on that individual pride.”
While Diabate hasn’t been recognized as an offensive weapon, Lee noted his growth in processing information and playing within the system.
Don’t poster farm with Moussa Diabaté in the paint 😤 pic.twitter.com/Ob1huMPaoP
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 26, 2024
“I think his screening has improved, and understanding angles,” Lee said. “We’ve seen a lot of blitzes and pick-and-rolls, and him playing in the seam, and now having to catch that ball in the seam and make some reads versus the shift activity — he’s gotten a lot more comfortable there as well.”
Now that he has a clear path to logging consistent minutes in the league, Diabate echoes Lee’s sentiments.
“Being that glue guy is the most important thing. I think it’s about facilitating for everyone, giving everything I have, and being that energy guy — the battery that can help out.”
In a 2021 interview with The Athletic, Diabate said that he has “never felt settled.” His basketball journey has taken him to multiple continents, high schools, and now two NBA teams. With a little more than a half-season left, he’ll have his opportunity to secure a roster spot, shed his two-way contract, and get settled in Charlotte.
Check out the remaining 2024-25 schedule for the Charlotte Hornets.
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