Spurs Sign Mamadi Diakite

[Dverde]

https://x.com/jeffgspurszone/status/1741897696892301600?s=46

[Dverde]

https://x.com/thetyjager/status/1741898676560384434?s=46

[John B]

Stacked!!! :ihit:ihit:ihit

[ambchang]

Championship experience.

[heyheymymy]

https://y.yarn.co/28eefb2d-5a03-498e-9f4a-cb5f214e3f60_text.gif

[spurs10]

Welcome! We could use all the help we can get.

The FIX FOR SIX

[exstatic]

If he’s French,it might be a solid for Victor’s agent, who has always worked well with SA.

[RC_Drunkford]

he can't be worse than anybody not named Victor or Devin on this team

[BackHome]

See we don't need to Tank to get Talent we can just sign free agents and will win a Championship :spin

[Spurs Homer]

he can't be worse than anybody not named Victor or Devin on this team

Hate to be the one to tell you -

but devin sucks balls -

[scott]

We've said the Spurs need to add some vets, and the FO listened! A veteran presence will do wonders for the Austin Spurs!

[TekXX]

Wright finally making moves.

[Bruno]

I've looked at some interviews and video about his background, he sounds genuinely like a great guy. I have no clue on how good/bad he is on the court.

Spurs had three injured bigmen (Bassey, Bediako and Collins), signing another one for Austin/San Antonio makes a lot of sense.

[Harry Callahan]

Hate to be the one to tell you -

but devin sucks balls -

He would be a lot better not taking so many high difficulty shots. The situation right now (partially his fault) is that the easy shots (uncontested jumpers and fast break layups) are not happening due to the lack of team defense, defensive rebounding, and a high level lead guard.

[playbonner15]

Better than Bediako, good one by FO

[r0drig0lac]

power shift.

[jjspur]

Don't think I ever heard of this guy. Isn't there anyone in the G league with a better resume that they could have signed ?

[FlAVaK]

If he’s French,it might be a solid for Victor’s agent, who has always worked well with SA.

quasi



Diakite is a fluent speaker of French, Maninka, Susu, and Fula. He began learning English when he arrived in the United States to attend Blue Ridge School.[47][48] In 2014, his father Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite, health inspector general of Guinea, began leading his country's efforts against the West African Ebola virus epidemic in association with the World Health Organization.[3][49] At the University of Virginia, Diakite was a French major and Global Culture and Commerce minor.[50] In February 2019, he dyed his hair gold as "a nod to when he played soccer as a youth" in Guinea.[51]

[duncan2150]

Yes he's not a french guy, he came directly from guinea and was part of the virginia team who won the title in 2019 ( the only thing i remember about him).

[CorrectCrusader]

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

We've said the Spurs need to add some vets, and the FO listened! A veteran presence will do wonders for the Austin Spurs!

[Ocotillo]

26? Does not fit the timeline, next!

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Jeezus

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL3a-HxBa4k

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU6qQJFPFPU

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qqs4Cf2fPM

[cutewizard]

https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2020/9/14/21428349/mamadi-diakite-2020-nba-draft-scouting-report-atlanta-hawks-virginia-video-analysis


NBA projection
Strengths


Diakite was the linchpin of a couple of elite college defenses in Charlottesville the past two seasons, using his 7-foot-3 wingspan to affect shots and alter trajectories. Let me be more specific, though. He doesn’t just block shots, he generally erases them with an exclamation point. It’s no rare occurrence to see a shot swatted into the third row of the crowd when Diakite is defending the paint. Below, however, is one of the tamer rejections he recorded.

Displaying incredible activity at all times, Diakite can defend all over the court — especially around the perimeter — with impressive range. Tony Bennett’s scheme calls for aggressive trapping near the sideline and packing the paint when possible. This means Diakite has free rein to roam around and sniff out offensive players in trouble, forcing them to pick up their dribble. Even when he’s left on an island against a smaller guy, though, he can still harass them to the point of tossing up ugly shots.

But Diakite doesn’t just move around haphazardly, rather he uses his extremely high defensive IQ to snuff out dangerous situations to cause chaos for opponents. Pick-and-roll ball handlers shouldn’t be surprised when they turn the corner and see a hard Diakite hedge as the help defender on screens.


Additionally, he became more comfortable defending without fouling over time, cutting his foul rate every season at Virginia. He went from above 5 fouls per 36 minutes in each of his first two seasons to 3.5 and then 2.2 in his last two seasons respectively as his on court smarts and positioning improved.

Diakite finishes at the rim well — in transition and in the halfcourt game — at 1.19 PPP (points per possession) per Synergy. He runs the court enthusiastically and dives down the lane for easy buckets when space opens up. He is a willing screener, despite his thin frame, and generally handles contact well on the defensive end.


One layer Diakite added to his game at Virginia was catching-and-shooting, especially from behind the arc. He began to really flash some ability to shoot as a senior, taking almost 2 threes per game and knocking them down at a 36.4% rate.

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYaNXkayk9g

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHLn2PtjPOg

[CGD]

That 2019 UVa team he was a part of had a great story, after losing in the first round in 2018 (the year Hunter was injured). Very 2014 Spurs-esc in that sense.

[spursparker9]

The next Whiteside tbh

[Rocalcio]

If he’s French,it might be a solid for Victor’s agent, who has always worked well with SA.

He’s from Guinea, but probably speaks French

[Seventyniner]

Spiritual successor to Gorgui Dieng on the roster imo.

[TrainOfThought5]

Potential 3 and D guy. Start him and Wesley asap. Let’s get this Defensive train rolling.

[ace3g]

https://youtu.be/sVYKWdPVYnU?si=huFbOfBO_b9O8ZCi

[John B]

https://youtu.be/sVYKWdPVYnU?si=huFbOfBO_b9O8ZCi

I thought I saw him on the bench tonight… he looks really mature at 26 yrs old

[Dejounte]

https://youtu.be/V4dYiFJUfSs?feature=shared

they did the same thing tonight

when is giannis’ contract up? Lmaoo

[Seventyniner]

Diakite might be one of those uber locker room glue guys that everyone just loves. I doubt he gets any meaningful minutes, even with as bad as the Spurs are, but if he can lift the players' spirits as one of their own, as opposed to that coming from someone on the coaching staff, hopefully it at least helps ease the pain of all the losing.