« Obviously, like any player, we probably imagine being chosen a little higher. » Moussa Diabate however, had to settle for 43rd position in the last draft. Disappointed ? Frustrated ? ” In the end, I knew which teams were interested in me. Even though I didn’t know who was going to choose me, I still knew who was interested », describes the Frenchman in an interview for Basketball News.
The Clippers, who eventually got their hands on it, were particularly interested. Direction Los Angeles therefore for the former interior of Michigan who admits that he did not really have a favorite destination in terms of life off the pitch.
« I don’t really care, it might have been Minnesota, Cleveland or Sacramento, it doesn’t really matter. For me it was just regarding being able to get into a team and from there trying to improve. But obviously LA is amazing and the weather is awesome. Compared to Michigan, it’s really better ! “laughs the 20-year-old player.
Four players influenced him
Beyond the favorable temperatures, the Frenchy discovers a very ambitious franchise where some big names in the league play (Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, John Wall, etc.). The young man has not yet had the opportunity to meet all his new teammates but already sees himself as a ” blessing » the fact of being able to evolve alongside them. ” I just have to keep going, keep working, and obviously learn from the greats “, he assures, believing that the Clippers did not have a profile like him so far.
He takes the opportunity to reveal the four players who have or have had the most influence on his game: Bam Adebayo, Pascal I’m sorry, Years Jackson Jr. et Kevin Garnett. « These are four players I really admired “, he formulates, also quoting a former player as Tim Thomas as well as Serge Ibaka. In short, only very mobile 4 or 5 positions, rather comfortable with the ball in hand, and able to move away from the circle.
The future will tell if he will ever be able to approach the level of all these. We recall that Lawrence Frank sees in him ” a development project which will be done on the sidelines of the franchise’s short-term ambitions. ” The Clippers are really trying to build something and make something happen, so it’s really a different kind of environment, whereas a team like OKC (mentioned in the interview) may not have the same environment “, notes the Frenchman, lucid.
The latter, despite his first steps, still has trouble realizing: “ I don’t know when, internally, I’m going to say to myself: ‘Well, you’re an NBA player now’. I do not know ! (laughs). I just have to keep working and improving. »
