By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
French center Moussa Diabate is heading to the Charlotte Hornets.
Diabate, 22, agreed to sign a two-year contract with the Hornets, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday.
Coming out of Michigan in 2022, the Paris native was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 43rd overall pick of the annual draft. After two years with the Clippers, including 33 NBA appearances, he became an unrestricted free agent, since his previous team opted against presenting a qualifying offer. After a couple of two-way contracts with the Clippers, the same situation emerges at the Hornets.
In the 2023-24 Regular Season, Diabate averaged 2.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.4 assists per contest over 11 appearances. Playing for the Ontario Clippers in the most recent installment of the G League, he put up 15.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.2 steals per contest over 19 games played.
Back in 2018 and 2019, he represented France in the U16 and U18 European Championships. Diabate was among the leading players on both occasions, tallying 11.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in the U16 tournament, and 12.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in the U18 tournament. Les Bleus ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
Locating in Florida for high school, he developed his talents in the United States en route to Michigan for the 2021-22 NCAA season. After one year of college basketball with the Wolverines, he entered the NBA draft.
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