Moussa Diabate

Renowned French professional basketball player, Moussa Diabaté, was born on 21 January 2002. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), as part of a two-way contract with the Ontario Clippers of the NBA G League. With strong African roots, his parents hail from Mali and Guinea. Diabaté was born, raised, and took his early strides in the sport of basketball in the beautiful city of Paris.

He began his Basketball journey at 12, playing with the Sporting Club Maccabi de Paris. After a few months of refining his skill there, he moved to USD Charonne. In this new environment, his passion for the sport solidified. Diabaté later competed for Saint Charles de Charenton Saint Maurice. However, the young talent faced some hiccups when he was barred from entering the sports institute CREPS due to academic discrepancies. At age 14, to advance his career, Diabaté migrated to the United States.

In America, Diabaté faced an uphill battle as he had to overcome the language barrier and adapt to the new playing style. He joined Montverde Academy’s middle school program in Montverde, Florida. He then moved on to play his freshman year at Florida Preparatory Academy in Melbourne, Florida. Diabaté demonstrated immense talent and skill, grabbing 30 rebounds in a game against Marshall County High School. As a sophomore he averaged an impressive 17.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Diabaté continued to shine in his junior season, which he played at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. His contributions helped his team make it to the City of Palms Classic final in December 2019. He further displayed his skills at the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during NBA All-Star Weekend in February 2020. During his time as a junior, his average stood at 14.5 points and seven rebounds per game. His senior season saw similar numbers, where he averaged 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, leading his team to a 21–3 record. Diabaté’s hard work and prowess were rewarded with a selection for the McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic rosters.

The talented player was recognized as a consensus five-star recruit and one of the best power forwards in the 2021 class. On 9 November 2020, he committed to play college basketball for Michigan. He chose Michigan over illustrious institutions like Arizona, Kentucky, and Memphis. While at Michigan, he faced a minor setback after he was involved in a post-game brawl that got him suspended for one game by the Big Ten Conference.

His average during his freshman season was 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. On 25 April 2022, Diabaté declared for the NBA draft but decided to maintain college eligibility. A change of heart on 1 June 2022 made him decide to remain in the draft, thus forfeiting his remaining eligibility.

The Los Angeles Clippers spotted Diabaté’s potential and picked him with the 43rd overall choice in the 2022 NBA draft. He later joined the Clippers’ 2022 NBA Summer League roster where he shone in his debut, scoring ten points and seven rebounds. On July 22n, 2022 he signed a two-way contract with the Clippers. His talent continued to flourish, which saw him earn the title of G League Player of the Week in December due to his impressive 20-point/20-rebound performances. This achievement also earned him a place in the G League’s All-Rookie team and the postseason All-NBA G League Team third team.

Away from America, Diabaté also represented France in international events. In the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia, he led his team to a commendable fourth-place finish. He performed strongly in the competition, averaging 11.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. At the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship in Volos, Greece, he averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. His team finished fifth place in the tournament.

It’s clear that Diabaté has had an exceptional journey from being a young boy in Paris to a recognized professional basketball player. His passion for the game, his relentless hard work, and his dedication to his craft have led him to the pinnacles of international basketball. With a career that shows only an upward trajectory, the French talent is undoubtedly a player to watch. His tale serves as an inspiring story for young, aspiring athletes across the world.